Free Little Miss Lovesick by Kitty Bucholtz

“Actually, it was nice.” I licked whipped cream off the lid. “Unbelievably beautiful up there. Wish I could’ve stayed longer and done some hiking.” I thought about Matt. Definitely wish I could’ve stayed longer.
    D o no t mention him to anyon e , said Pride.
    “Emily kicked butt in the fish-catching department, though. Caught three, better than anyone else.”
    “Good for her. Tell her I said ‘nice going’.”
    “I will.” I sat up and set my drink back on the coaster.
    Carmen started to return to her desk, then paused. “Any chance you met any fascinating men up there?”
    Play it cool. I smiled and said, “Just the fishing guide and lodge owner.” Completely not a lie.
    Carmen pointed her finger at me. “It’s time, girl. There’s plenty of good men out there. If you don’t know how to meet them, I’ll introduce you. Pretty Boy is gone, and I say good riddance.”
    I grinned. It’s good to be loved. “Thanks, Carmen.”
    She harrumphed and went back to her desk. I shook my head and went back to work.
    Over the next couple of hours, people trickled in and out of the office, some stopping to ask about my fishing weekend. I repeated what I’d said to Carmen and got the same reactions. It was fun to be the center of attention for a few minutes.
    “Hey, Sydney, how was your weekend?” Trent pulled up a chair and sat down.
    I finished typing and turned away from my computer. “It was nice.” On the corner of my desk sat a bud vase with two fresh roses. I shook my head as I picked up the vase. “You’ve got to stop doing this.”
    Trent had a habit of doing nice things for me sometimes like bringing me roses from the rosebush in front of his apartment complex. It was sweet. I always told him he should get a girlfriend and give the roses to her. He’d always laugh and say all the good ones were taken. Such a sweetie.
    Trent laughed when I stuck my nose in the flowers. “I will when you stop enjoying them. Come on, tell me about the fishing trip.”
    I grinned. “I saw a bear, fell in the river, and found out I don’t like to fish.”
    “Well,” Trent raised his eyebrows, “you don’t believe in boring vacations, do you?”
    I laughed. “I certainly didn’t plan it that way.”
    “Speaking of vacations, what’re you doing over Fourth of July weekend? Going home?”
    Something in Trent’s tone made me look up. Was he… ? O h . Oh dear. I had a feeling he was about to ask me out. Before he did , i f he did, how should I reply? I know I said I was ready, but…am I? I did a quick comparison against the list I’d made in my head yesterday. Trent was kind, rather funny, good-natured. Not bad, I guess.
    Yea h , piped up Little Miss Lovesick , but not like with Matt where you watch him and accidentally brush up against him and have dinner by firelight and—
    Enough! Matt’s too far away to date. Trent is here.
    But do I want to date him?
    “My parents are going to Disney World, if you can believe it,” I told him. “Emily’s work is having a picnic on the beach before the fireworks, so we’re going to hang out there all day. Swim, eat, get a tan. What’re you doing?” I tried for a nonchalant tone. I didn’t want it to sound like I wanted him to invite me anywhere, but I didn’t want to sound like I hoped he wouldn’t, either.
    “Some friends are going sailing, then we’ll watch the fireworks from the bay. Probably spend most of the time on the boat.” His eyes met mine and darted away. He fiddled with the vase I’d put down on my desk.
    “Sounds fun.” Man, this flirting thing was so much easier this weekend.
    “Let me know if you’d like to go out sometime — on the boat, I mean.” Trent got up to leave. “Remember, you owe me dinner.”
    “What?” I snorted and wrinkled up my face. Humorous faces definitely lighten the mood.
    “Last week you gave me a rain check.”
    “No, I gave you a rain check for lunch.”
    “Fine, what’s your schedule? I have to show a