Life in the No-Dating Zone Read Online Free

lifted it, holding the back wheels with his thumb and middle finger. It spun. Huh. Must be a pull-back-and-go car. His movements looked practiced, like he played with the car all the time without thinking. “I feel like a complete idiot.”
    Okay, time to be brutally honest. It wasn’t fair to give him false hope. “I know. It seems impossible with all the guys around her, but you can’t stop thinking about her because she’s so pretty and funny and sweet all rolled up into one neat package.”
    “That’s kind of sarcastic.”
    I gently pried my hair out of Jack’s fist. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be mean, but I’ve seen it all before. And you’ve got two choices—talk to her or forget her and move on.”
    Gray flopped onto the couch, laid his head back, and draped an arm over his eyes. “That’s what Berger said.”
    “Trey Berger?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Huh. I didn’t know he was so smart.” Jack squirmed to get down, so I stood him on the floor where he could hold on to the couch. He could walk, but sometimes he looked like he was doing a Captain Jack Sparrow impression.
    Gray groaned. Jack sidled over and patted him on the knee. “Hey, buddy,” Gray whispered and ran his hand over the baby’s curly hair. The tiny car was nowhere in sight, which was good because the baby would’ve made a grab for it.
    “Up, up, up,” Jack said.
    Gray slid him onto his lap and sat back. “You think I have any kind of chance?”
    Jack snatched up one of Gray’s hands and played with his fingers, so I took a minute to study him. With his blue eyes and prominent cheekbones, he was handsomer than some of the guys Lindsey had liked over the years, but she was happiest with a guy who had at least as strong a personality as she did. It didn’t look hopeful to me.
    “That bad, huh?”
    Warmth rushed into my cheeks. Nothing like getting caught staring. “No, no, I’m just thinking. The only way you have a chance is if you talk to her.”
    “And I’ve done great with that so far.”
    “The trick is to talk about things she’s interested in.”
    “Yeah. I was kinda hoping you could help with that.”
    “It’s really easy. Her favorite subjects are theater, acting, Broadway, and movies.”
    “I don’t know much about theater, but movies I can do.”
    “You still work at the Cineplex?”
    Gray scooted down in his seat so Jack could lie against his chest. The baby closed his eyes. “Yeah, how’d you know?”
    “I’ve seen you there.”
    “Brainlessly sweeping up popcorn?” He ran his hand in circles on the baby’s back. “You wouldn’t want to talk to her for me, would you?”
    “No way. I can give you suggestions, but I won’t be a go-between. Sorry.”
    “It’s okay. I didn’t figure you would.” He stared at the ceiling. “What I need is some kind of way to get an in with her so she can get to know me. It’s not as if I can ask her out. Not while she’s dating someone.”
    She’ll always be dating someone. Better not say that, though. “Other boys have.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not cool with that.”
    So. He was a stand-up guy. Or he was too scared of what her reaction might be. I didn’t blame him.
    “Hey,” he said, “what if sometime when y’all are going to hang out, you bring me with you? It’ll seem more normal and it won’t look like I’m only there to stare at Lindsey like the other guys do.”
    “Except if you stare at her and don’t say anything.”
    He sighed. “Yeah. So I’ve got that going for me.”
    I laughed. Gray continued to rub Jack’s back. He must have held babies before. He looked too natural doing it. “How did you know to do that with Jack?” I asked.
    “What?”
    “Sink down so he could lie flatter.”
    “Oh. He was leaning like he couldn’t hold his head up and his breathing had slowed down.”
    “You noticed all that?”
    “How could I miss it? He was on my lap.”
    “Not just anybody would. You have experience with kids, don’t