Ainsley couldn't stay home all weekend. Her biggest fear was Ian knocking and her answering. He stayed away, but she had thirty unread text messages. She sent a message on the dating app to another guy who had potential. Out of desperation, she contacted Xander, the momma's boy. She offered to buy him a drink as a friend. If his mother let him out. Surprisingly, he agreed.

They met at her favorite bar. Thankfully, Katie was off. She didn't want to explain how the perfect guy wasn't perfect.

Xander arrived looking nice in jeans and a sweater. He kissed her cheek. "I'm glad you reached out."

"You are?"

He was very handsome when he smiled, but his brown eyes weren't green and didn't sparkle with mischief.

"I didn't like what you said at first, but after time and a conversation with my close friend, I realized you were right. So thank you."

"I didn't expect a thank you."

"You deserve it." The server came by for their order. "Do you want an appetizer?"

Her dates rarely included food. She smiled. "You decide."

"The balsamic grilled Brussels sprouts or..."

"Yeah. The Brussels sprouts." Ian hated them. She smiled at the server. "And a house red."

Xander asked for a red too. He studied her. "You look..."

"Like crap?"

He shook his head. "Tired."

"Disclaimer. I'm on the rebound. By that, I mean I just smashed into the ground and haven't bounced at all. I told you I just needed a friend."

"I'm guessing you have better friends than a guy you had one drink with."

She scrunched her mouth to one side. "They're too close to the fallout."

"Do you want to talk about it? The good news is thanks to you I moved out of my mother's house, so if you want to make out, I'll take one for the team."

She laughed. Maybe she should have kept him and skipped the pain. "Talk about it? No. He lied to me. Kept a secret from me."

"A wife and two kids?"

"What? No." She smiled. "You are funny. I missed that before. He's friends with the enemy."

"Sounds ominous."

"My nemesis at work. A grade A jerk who is trying to ruin my career. I'm up for a promotion and if I don't get it, I'll move to Alaska."

"Alaska, huh? You could do something less severe, like I don't know... Date me."

Their server set the Brussels sprouts on the table. The scent made her mouth water. She hadn't eaten more than a few bites since her life imploded. "Dating? Not a good idea. Rebound, remember?"

"Give it some time. The offer still stands to make out. For the record, I didn't give you my all when you kissed me. I was a little pissed at your honesty."

"Just a little? I like you. I wish I knew a nice girl for you." Not Olivia for obvious reasons, not just New York.

"So not you because you'll be in Alaska."

"Exactly, unless I get the promotion. Then we can celebrate." It was a true promotion. Catrina told her the person she chose would have the permanent title of senior promotions specialist with a modest raise.

"When will you hear?"

"It could be awhile. Tell me about your mother's reaction to your moving out."

Although her baseline was a sad hum inside, she laughed. She kept blocking it out, but when their conversation stopped for bites, she could hear the humming. She asked for a second glass hoping to shut out the sound. It was like when a refrigerator kicked on in a completely silent house.

"These are so good. I'm hungry. Should we order dinner?"

Could she eat a meal? "You can. Maybe another appetizer."

He looked down at the menu. "Calamari?"

Ian liked it, but it didn't mean it was off limits. "Okay. I only eat the rings."

He chuckled. "Noted." He kept looking down. "And fries with truffle oil."

"Those are delicious." Zach loved them.

He looked around. "Do you come here a lot?"

She nodded. "It's like our neighborhood bar, but our work hood. Where is your new place?"

"Jamaica Plain."

Her face brightened. "Seriously? I used to live in the neighborhood, before my roommates dumped me for their significant others."

"It's small, a two bedroom, but I own it."

"It can't be smaller than my studio. Your mortgage is probably less than my rent."

"Where are you?"

She didn't like to tell guys where she lived, but she trusted him. He wasn't asking for her address. "Beacon Hill."

He chucked. "I think you're right, but your commute is shorter."

"Grocery shopping is easier for you. I hate shopping in the city." Her face fell. She took a sip to block out memories of a shared shopping list.

"This probably doesn't surprise you, but my mother fills my freezer."

"The perks of a dedicated mother. How did she take the reality of you moving out?"

"She's not naïve. She's addicted to networks like Lifetime and Bravo and shows like The Bachelor. I told her if she ever wanted grandchildren, I needed to move out. At first, she huffed and puffed, but I promised to stay close by. Let's say my Sundays are tied up."

"Sounds like you worked it out. That's what you want, the whole kid thing?"

He looked at her smirking. "Doesn't everyone? What's the point of working and advancing in a career? I saved for my condo and next for a house and then college funds. It's the American dream."

She looked at the crispy golden calamari. "It isn't really my dream. I like other people's kids." Like Brooke, her face dropped.

"Did the guy you were seeing want kids?"

She looked up. "No. It was one reason things seemed perfect."

He chuckled. "Nothing's perfect. Thanks to you, I know I'll never be a perfect catch. My mother will always mettle. It's enough for most things to be good enough."

"Isn't that settling?"

He shrugged. "It depends. If the really good outweighs the mother." He winked. "Seriously, did it really matter that you don't like one of his friends?"

"It's not that. He lied to me. He kept it a secret, and he said we were a team, but he was supporting the jerk for the promotion."

Xander made a fist. "Did he tell you that?"

"The jerk made it loud and clear."

His jaw relaxed. "The jerk? Is he believable?" What did your guy say?"

She sighed. And held up her phone. "I haven't looked."

"Damn. I knew you wouldn't come home with me, but I really wanted to find a corner to make out. I have a poor performance to correct, but you are definitely not ready." He popped an oily fry in his mouth. "I speak for all the guys out there, you should probably read his texts before moving to Alaska or kissing another guy in an alley."

Her eyes clouded up. "I never agreed to the kissing."

"I know." He squeezed her hand. "Do you want another drink?"

"No. I shouldn't." She dug through her bag for her wallet.

"What are you doing?"

She looked up. "I invited you. Remember?"

He sighed. "Fine. Since there's no making out, we can split it. I hate fighting over checks."

"You're a good man."

"I expect to hear about your promotion. If you're still single, maybe you'll give me a chance to talk you out of Alaska."

She smiled. "Maybe I will."

He picked up her phone and texted himself. They had only communicated through the dating app. "Keep in touch. Promise?" She nodded. After they each signed the charge slip, he smiled. "Are you taking the T?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

"Do you need me to walk you home?"

Rhys and Zach would say yes. "No, I'm fine."

They rode together to Downtown Crossing. He would stay on the train, but she needed to change to another train. He stood when she did. She looked at him when he stepped out of the train.

"It's late." It was after ten. "I can wait until you get an Uber or escort you home. It's your choice."

"I'll get an Uber. I trust you, but it's foolish for you to go out of your way."

Just before her car pulled up, she kissed his cheek. "Thanks for cheering me up. Have fun with your mother tomorrow."

He smiled. "Screw it." His lips descended on hers in a heated kiss. His skill level was above his previous performance. She pulled back when his tongue probed her closed lips.

"A ten, but my heart just wasn't in it."

He stood and waved as she slid into the backseat of the waiting car.

The driver was a woman. "Fun night?"

"Yeah."

"He's good looking. Lucky you."

She didn't feel lucky at all. Xander was not the right guy for her, not just because he wanted kids.

Ainsley fell asleep without cold medicine to knock her out. She was afraid she would overdose after three glasses of wine. Instead, she covered her face with her hands. Screaming inside, she let him kiss her. The momma's boy wasn't too bad. She wished she knew a nice girl for him. She would need a backbone to put up with a challenging mother-in-law. In-laws were on the list of reasons to never marry. She hadn't woken up in an alternative universe where she suddenly wanted a husband and kids. After she got out of bed to pee, feed Gunther and take some tylenol, Ainsley had nothing to do, so she fell back to sleep.

When she woke, she checked her phone. She had a message from Robert. It was probably foolish to go on another date which would lead nowhere. For three hours, Xander distracted her. Another distraction might not hurt. She messaged him asking if he wanted to meet. Her only reservation was that his picture was of an actor from Schitt's Creek. She had messaged him about it. You know he's gay. Robert responded, I'm not, but he's funny. She frowned because he was Ian's favorite character. So just like her old self, she had a date lined up. If only, she felt like herself.

Sunday dragged as she binge watched shows. Torn between boredom and not wanting Sunday to end, she wished Monday wouldn't come. It was just a matter of time before she ran into Ian. Her fear was he would corner her at work.

She woke early to avoid seeing him on her commute. Nina breezed in and asked about her weekend. She thought of Xander to force a smile. If Nina was single, she would introduce them. Henry walked in while Nina talked about wedding venues.

"Ladies." He smiled like they should fall at his feet. "I had a great weekend. Thanks for asking."

"We didn't." Ainsley flashed a fake smile before glaring.

She froze when she saw Ian's name in her inbox. She was afraid to read it. Nina said, "Cyber security sounds like a movie."

Relieved it wasn't just for her, she said, "Henry, your best friend sent me an email."

"I knew about the security audit." She hadn't, but she had been self absorbed. "I'm fixing him up with a hot chick at our gym. It's to repay him for helping me with Eric."

Ainsley's heart stopped. The hot chick had already been interested. The liar wasted no time. She was glad she kissed Xander.

"Funny. I didn't need any help with Eric. My meeting went great."

The cyber attachment gave her a headache. By lunch time, her head pounded, and she felt clammy. Standing in Catrina's door, she was afraid to get close.

"I don't feel well."

The soon-to-be mother looked at her with concern. "You look awful. Go home."

When she lifted her big bag onto her shoulder, her muscles ached. Nina told her to get some rest. The subway was so hot she took her coat off. Then the walk to her building from the station felt like ten miles. She stripped out of her clothes and climbed under her covers. Fitful sleep over took her. She was hot and cold and hot again. She drank some water and took tylenol and stumbled back to bed.

What a mess ⭐️⭐️⭐️