Chapter 16
My face grew hot at the thought of Wes reading over my profile or looking at my pictures. I’d never really thought about things from the other side. As I picked apart the profiles of men I liked, there were men doing the same to mine. But this wasn’t just any man, it was Wes. Wes, who was almost ten years younger and too handsome to ever need a dating site.
“What are you, a hacker now?”
“I am whatever I need to be to make sure that you stay away from all future Glenns. Got it?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head.
“What? You don’t like Ned?” He put the picture on the piece of paper up to the camera so that it filled the screen. “Don’t worry, I also have Philip. Fancy name, right?” He held up the next piece of paper. “He’s into golf, which almost made me disqualify him but there’s this really sweet picture of him playing frisbee with his dog on the beach and I know how you told your boys you’d never get them a dog, so I figured hey, two birds with one stone, right?”
“Oh, Wes.” I groaned, but my chest filled with warmth. He’d gone to so much effort and it was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me—but a little odd too.
“Okay, fine, no Philip.” He crumpled up the paper. “I mean, I really think I was more in love with the dog than him, so I guess it’s for the best. This is the winner.” He held up the final piece of paper. “His name is Hancock. I know, right? No, seriously, that’s his first name.” He pointed to the name on the piece of paper. “Maybe you can call him Hanc? Anyway, I almost eliminated him for the name alone, but then I thought, would Noella do that?” He shook his head. “Nope, she wouldn’t. She would give the guy a chance, because a name is just a name, right?”
“Right.” I grinned.
“So, this guy is newly single—no kids, no pets, and—well, kind of boring in my opinion. But you seem to like boring, so he might be perfect for you.”
“What do you mean I like boring?” I frowned. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“No? I saw your requirements, remember?”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting a mature, stable person.” I shrugged.
“No, nothing wrong with it at all. Boring, but not wrong.”
“Ugh.” I laughed. “Just show me Hanc.”
“See, I knew you would get into this.” He wiggled the paper in front of the camera. “Noella, I enjoy reading, bike riding, and a good game of chess. Wait, don’t faint just yet, I also have a hobby. It’s whittling.”
“Seriously?” I laughed as he lowered the paper to reveal his face.
“No, not really. I just made that last part up. I was hoping it would make him more interesting. Did it work?”
“He sounds great. Very interesting.”
“He does?” He looked at the paper, then back at me. “Alright, I’m sending him a message right now.”
“What?! No, don’t you dare! How did you even get into my account?”
“Oh yes, that’s another discussion we need to have. Using your son’s name and birthday as a password is pretty much like not having any password at all.”
“Wes!” I wanted to be angry, but I couldn’t stop laughing.
“There we go. You should hear from him soon.”
“Wes! You didn’t seriously do it, did you?” I stared hard at the monitor.
“Yes. Because if I didn’t you would have talked yourself out of it. You have to get back on that horse, Noella.”
“I think I should be the one to decide that, don’t you?” My amusement began to fade.
“Trust me, one date with Mr. Chess and you’re going to forget all about Glenn. I mean, Hancock? That’s already interesting, right?”
“Right.” I shook my head. “Wes, what did I ever do to deserve you?”
“Hm, something bad I’d guess. But here I am.” He pushed his face up to the camera. “You still love me, don’t you?”
“Yes, of course I do.” I grinned as I studied his face. “Does this mean I get to pick out your dates too?”
“You wouldn’t be jealous?” He grinned back at me.
“Maybe just a little. I guess I’d have to go to a bar with you, though. I’m sure you’re not on any dating sites.”
“No, but I’m not going to any bars either. I’m pretty sure the woman of my dreams is going to just sit down across from me one day.” He shrugged. “Or I’m just lazy, one of the two. Anyway, this isn’t about me, this is about you. Focus!”
“Alright, I’ll try.” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Wes. You really did cheer me up. But I will be changing my password.”
“Good, you should. I mean, they even give you suggestions of what a strong password is when you make one. Do any of those suggestions include using your child’s name?”
“Bye, Wes.” I laughed as I hung up the call.
I was still giggling to myself when the time came to leave to pick up the kids. I knew that I should have been annoyed—Wes really overstepped—but I couldn’t. He kept me laughing all afternoon and that laughter was just the medicine I needed.