Perfectly Ms. Matched(39)

“Like you don’t do whatever you want to do anyway. You wouldn’t also be here early, because you know I’ll be too busy to tell you about last night once we open, would you?”

“That too.” Shelby laughed and scooped up another croissant. “So, deets, please.”

“After I told Chad I was considering giving up dating until after the restaurant is renovated, he asked me if I wanted to get back together just until he had to leave for San Diego. Before I could answer, Ryan came in and wanted to sleep with us, putting the kibosh on any sexy times.” Thankfully. She needed to think things through before she took that leap. When Chad wasn’t around, her brain could have a chance to chime in over her neglected hormones.

Jo filled Shelby in on what Linda had pulled the night before, then said, “I feel sorry for Ryan. But I’m glad he has Chad. He’s really a good father. He’s changed a lot.”

Shelby’s right brow arched. “But you need to remember that he still plans to play football in San Diego for as long as he can.”

“I know.” Jo started on a pie crust. “That’s the thing that’s holding me back. But I wouldn’t mind having sex with a hot guy. One who I still have some feelings for, rather than having to start all over again and then figure out that relationship probably won’t work out in the long term either.”

“You still have feelings for Chad? That’s news. You’ve talked about Ryan far more in the last few weeks than you have Chad.”

“That’s because you get weird when I talk about him. Always picking apart what I say and digging for hidden meanings. But I love Ryan too.”

“I’m worried about you, Jo. They’re going to leave soon. I don’t want to see you go through the kind of grief you went through the last time Chad left and when you lost Bryce.”

“Then why were you so excited for me to rehab Chad?” She gently laid the crust into the pan and then slowly poured in the warm apple filling.

Shelby hesitated, as if scrambling for an answer. “Because we needed the money for the expansion so we could make the balloon payment to our landlord. Rehabbing Chad was the easiest way for that to happen.”

“Is there something else you’re not telling me about Chad?” She picked up the tin and trimmed off the overlapping dough with a knife.

“I know a lot about Chad that you don’t. So if you find out things you don’t like, please remember you wanted it that way.” Shelby leaned closer. “But what I’m really afraid of is that you’re pulling a Jerry Maguire here. Falling for the kid and the idea of a family rather than seeing Chad for who he still is. A great guy, but totally obsessed with football.”

Jo stopped rolling the crust out for the top of the pie and considered. Was she doing that? Or was it just the opposite? “Actually, I was planning to go to the cemetery on Saturday with Chad. I want to try to finally find some closure. I think Ryan and Chad have helped me find the courage to do that.”

“Really? You’ve never gone back since the funeral.” Shelby stood and wrapped her arms around Jo. “I know what a big deal that is for you.”

Jo returned the hug and blinked back her tears. “I think it’s time to do it so I can move forward.”

“I hadn’t realized you still struggled with coming to terms with Bryce. Does me being pregnant make things worse for you?”

“No! I couldn’t be happier for you and Nick. I think finding out that Chad was still affected too made me feel like it wasn’t only me.”

“Chad regrets a lot of things when it comes to you.”

“Me too.” Jo sighed. “We’re both different people now, though, and it’s nice to just be friends again.”

“Friends is good. But please go out with the guy Lori found for you before you give up dating altogether and sleep with Chad. Gary seems perfect for you. Someone who wants a family, is really nice, a pediatrician who loves kids, and he’s even smoking hot.” Shelby gave Jo a hard squeeze before she released her. “I know dating is hard. Don’t chicken out and take the easy road.”

Was she being a coward by settling for sleeping with Chad rather than getting back out there? He’d be the easier choice because he’s familiar. And hot. Which wasn’t a good enough reason to complicate her life by sleeping with Chad. “Okay, deal. When does Gary want to get together?”

“Let me text Lori and see.”



Chad waited for the elevator doors to part into his condo, then stepped out and threw his coat over the back of the couch. It was too damn early for a drink, unfortunately, but he could’ve used one. Even after showing the doc the video Jo had made of his progress, his physician had just told him his new injury from the ranch wasn’t helping things, but overall, his prognosis hadn’t changed. Playing in the pros wasn’t likely to happen unless some real improvement occurred soon. He wasn’t ready to resort to his plan B for his life and settle for being an architect yet.