Page 92 of The Accidental Dating Experiment

“That’s true,” I concede. Maybe let her make that decision ought to be tattooed on my ass.

“Well, it did the trick,” Juliet says, then pats Carter on the arm. “So thank you.”

Rachel smiles, meeting my gaze. “Friends need friends who tell them they’re dumbasses.”

Elodie lifts her cup of coffee. “I will drink to that.”

Fable nods appreciatively to Carter too, then to the rest of us. “And to friendship. Something we won’t ever let go of, or get enough of.”

Everyone seconds that with a hearty yes.

Juliet drops a kiss to my cheek, then turns to the table. “We should all drink to that.”

And we do. After Agatha fills our mugs, the table toasts to friendship. And to friends who are just like family.

36

ALL THE DAYS

Juliet

“And welcome to another episode of Heartbreakers and Matchmakers,” I say into the mic, dipping my face so I don’t break into a giddy smile on air.

Sadie’s at her laptop, shaking her head with amusement. She knows what we’re going to tell listeners today. She’s been having too much fun ribbing us since she learned we’re now together. The took you forever. The I saw it coming. The your flirting was endless. I swear they’re never going to stop from her.

Today’s our first episode since we left Darling Springs and became not just co-hosts, but a couple. I’m giddy, yes, but also a little nervous about sharing that with our listeners.

But they made this possible in many ways, by listening to us, and giving us chances every week to spend time together. Time that brought us back together. After the intros, we slide into our first segment, where we address questions written in by listeners. When’s the best time to share about your family, how to talk about sex-pectations, and when to end things.

After we tackle those topics, Monroe lifts a brow. “I have a dating question.”

We planned that as the opener. But then Sadie surprises me by cutting in. Every now and then she joins us on air. I just wasn’t expecting her to today. “Actually, I do,” she says.

I blink, surprised. “Oh. Sure. The floor’s yours.”

With an impish grin, she says, “What took you two so long?”

Well, then. I smile at Monroe. “Valid question.”

“And a very good point,” he adds, then shrugs happily as he clarifies. “I guess now’s as good a time as any to let all our listeners know that the Heartbreakers and Matchmakers are now…well, matched.”

Sadie hoots. “Called it. Actually, the number of listeners who called it is probably about the same as the number of listeners.”

I laugh. “Is that so? Has everyone been writing in and telling you we should go out?”

She nods vigorously. “Pretty much from the get-go.” She leans back in her chair. “So, tell us. How did it happen?”

While we were in the thick of it, we agreed not to discuss our dating experiment on the show. We said we’d decide later if we’d ever discuss it on air. But on the drive back to the city, we made the decision and it was an easy one. We want to share our love, and our story. That’s why we do this podcast—because we love love.

“I decided to give the apps another try while I was out of town. New town, new chance,” I explain, then nod toward my guy. Monroe smiles slyly. “And I volunteered as her dating coach.”

“You couldn’t possibly have had an ulterior motive,” Sadie deadpans.

Monroe acts aghast. “I just wanted to help.”

It’s my turn to smile slyly. Pretty sure he did have ulterior motives, but didn’t know it. “And he was very helpful. So helpful he offered to be all my dates,” I explain.

“How very generous,” Sadie quips.