Chapter Eleven

“What about a dating app?” Karli mentioned a few days later when they met up for lunch.

Sarah frowned as she toyed with her cheeseburger.

“Well,” Karli said, “I know you don’t want to go the whole bar scene route, and I don’t blame you. So that leaves work, places like the grocery store, and dating apps.”

“Yeah. Strike work off the list,” Sarah pointed out. “That’s just dumb, to mix work and personal.”

“Agreed. And as a result, I think a dating app or two is the way to proceed. Kind of ‘set it and forget it’. Check out any matches every couple of days and go from there.”

“Ugh. I really, really don’t want to do this,” Sarah protested. “I really think I am better off just staying by myself.”

“Just try it out,” Karli suggested. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

***

Two days later, Sarah called her best friend.

“What’s the worst that could happen, that’s what you said to me, right?”

“Uh oh,” Karli answered. “What happened?”

“Oh, not much,” Sarah said. “Only twelve unsolicited pictures of complete strangers’ private parts.”

“Ew!” Karli could not help but chuckle. “Why do guys think we’d find that attractive at all?”

“I have no idea,” Sarah murmured, “and those twelve… did I mention that that was just the first hour my profile was active? And I lost count of how many ‘hey baby wanna hook up’ instant messages I got. I’ve deleted my profile already.”

“I’m sorry, hon.”

“Yeah, well, we can definitely draw a big ole line through ‘dating apps.’ What else do you suggest?”

Karli blew out a sigh.

“I guess you’re gonna have to meet someone nice at the grocery store, or something.”

“Or,” Sarah chimed in, “I can just say forget the whole thing. There’s no guarantee of meeting a normal guy that way any more reliably than the dating app.”

“Oh, Sarah,” Karli said.

“It is what it is, Karli,” Sarah told her. “I guess I just need to figure out a different way to get through this. The last thing I need is to get tangled up with someone new and get hurt even more. It’s just… safer if I keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

A long pause, then Karli asked, “Sarah, did you ever think about trying to find Tim?”

“What? No,” Sarah’s response was forceful and immediate. “I don’t wanna know how happy he is with her. Nope. Besides, what would I even say if I did manage to find him? ‘Hey, remember me, the runaway bride? I know it’s been a while, but I still love you, how have you been?’ No thank you.”

“But what if – “Karli began.

“No, Karli. I’m not going to try to contact him ever again, and that’s final.”

“Okay,” Karli responded quietly. “Your life, your call.”

They chatted a bit more, and Sarah said, “Well, I’m going to go figure out something for dinner. Talk later?”

“You got it,” Karli confirmed and disconnected the call.

As Karli moved to her kitchen to get her own dinner underway, she reflected on the conversation that they had just had.

Sarah is so convinced he never even looked back. But I don’t think so. My gut says she’s got it all wrong. I can understand why she does not want to reach out to him, and I respect that.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t dig around a little bit, see what I can find out about a guy named Tim from Adrian, Texas.

***

One week in, and Karli was not having much luck. Sarah’s Tim either wasn’t much for social media, or he was hiding in plain sight. She had tried tracking him through T*****r, F******k, and I*******m with no luck – plenty of guys named Tim whose profiles mentioned the Army, and Texas, but not a one listing Adrian as his hometown.

“It sure would help if I knew his last name,” she grumbled under her breath.

Well, duh, her mind slapped back. But how are you gonna get that without making Sarah suspicious?

“I have no idea,” Karli answered aloud.

“No idea what?” Evan asked as he walked through the living room, his fingers flying on his phone’s keyboard.

“Nothing,” she answered, and frowned as he kept moving, his attention riveted on whatever he had going on his phone.

Even when he’s here, he’s not completely here, Karli thought to herself in disgust. Makes me wanna throw his phone out the window.

“Hey,” Evan said as he came back into the living room. “About Christmas.”

“We’re supposed to be at my parents’ house Christmas morning, then spend the afternoon with your mom,” Karli reminded him.

“Yeah… about that. I just found out I have to go to Kansas next week. I might not even be home for New Year’s. I just don’t know yet.”

“Seriously? Are you kidding me right now?” she rejoined, hands fisted on her hips. “But we always spend Christmas with the family. What am I supposed to tell them?”

“Tell them duty calls,” he snapped, and walked back toward his home office.

Karli could only stare, fuming, as he shut the door behind him.

***

“I can’t,” Karli answered, when Sarah suggested the two of them take a girl trip Christmas week. “Evan may not care about letting our families down, but I do.”

“Okay, so, I’ll be your plus one,” Sarah offered. “I’ll go with you, and we’ll do the things you usually do Christmas day, and then we’ll head out of town on the girl trip. I just found out my office is going to close down for the whole week, and I know we both could use a break.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Honestly? I was thinking Vegas.”

“Ooh, that does sound fun,” Karli’s tone had turned wistful. “But what about your family?”

“They won’t be in town,” Sarah revealed. “Mom and Dad are heading up to my aunt’s place in Kentucky and they’re not coming back until after New Year’s Day. And Jodie’s still in Florida taking care of her sister.”

“You know what? Yes. Let’s do it,” Karli agreed. “And we can drive it. It’s not that far, and we can see the Hoover Dam, and maybe the Grand Canyon on our way there.”

“Deal! This is gonna be great!”

***

“So, are you heading to Adrian for Christmas?” Jordan asked him.

“Nope,” Tim said. “I kinda figured with me being the new guy I’d get put on the duty roster first. What about you?”

“I usually volunteer to work so the guys with kids can have the time off,” Jordan answered.

“Sounds like a plan. Me and you, holding down the fort,” Tim agreed.