The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

            They just sat there for a minute, grinning at their ridiculous situation.

            “So, want to hear something weird?” Hallie asked, stirring her drink with her straw.

            “Always,” he said.

            “When I was walking over here, I realized that my non-match date tonight actually gave me hope for finding Mr. Soul Mate.”

            He tilted his head a little. “How so?”

            “Because Stephen is a good guy. Not for me, but still a catch—he’s successful, nice, and attractive. So even though it didn’t work out, I have hope in the possibilities. The next Stephen could be the one.”

            Jack gave a nod. “I mean, I suppose that’s what dating is. Finding the quality person who’s more than just a good candidate.”

            “Right?” She crossed her arms and said, “I just feel like it could be close.”

            “Your words to Ditka’s ears, Piper.”

            “You have to stop saying that.”

            They ended up closing down the Taco Hut after getting way too into bar trivia. Hallie was great at pop culture, while Jack was ridiculously good at history, so they had an impossible time walking away when they were in first place.

            After the restaurant closed, they walked home, which Hallie tipsily decided was the best perk of living downtown.

            “Seriously, I should sell my car,” she said, loving the feel of the city at night. All the colorful lights, the car noises, the smells of delicious food and garbage—it was intoxicating. “I love this.”

            “Watch the mud,” Jack said, pointing to the thick sludge on the sidewalk. “You don’t want to ruin those boots.”

            Hallie smiled at him and bumped his arm with hers. “I knew you’d noticed my pretty suede boots.”

            “I only noticed because you looked a little wobbly after your beers.” He grabbed her arm and stopped her forward motion. “Look.”

            They’d hit a spot that was apparently at the bottom of the hill, because the entire sidewalk was covered in thick mud.

            “Gah—my boots are going to get ruined,” she whined.

            Jack shook his head with a sigh and said, “Get on.”

            “What?”

            He bent a little at the waist and gestured to his back. “Piggyback ride.”

            Her mouth dropped open and she couldn’t stop the giggle. “Are you for real, Jack?”

            “Hop on and shut up, Hal.”

            She climbed onto his back, and he straightened and carried her to her building as if she were as light as a feather. She buried her cold nose in his warm neck, getting buzzed on the smell of soap and Jack, but he didn’t complain too much.

            “Your nose is so cold,” he said.

            “But your neck is so warm, I can’t help myself,” she replied, burying her nose a little deeper into his collar.

            “Fine.”

            When they finally reached her building, she climbed off his back and pulled a dollar out of her purse.

            “For you, sir,” she teased, holding out the money. “Thank you for seeing me home.”

            “A dollar?” He made a face, snatched the dollar from her fingers, and said, “I’m worth more than that, for the record, but I’ll take it.”

            “Whatever. Just walk carefully the rest of the way, okay?”

            He raised his eyebrows. “Worried about me?”

            “You wish.” She raised her key fob and pulled open the door when it beeped. “More like I’m worried about you dying before I get my free vacation.”





Chapter

ELEVEN





Hallie exited out of the spreadsheet and glanced at the time: four thirty.