“Yeah, that’s him.”
“He looks older than in his photo.” Lori continued to inspect the man.
“And thinner on top. That’s a comb over, if ever I saw one.” Logan heard an edge in his voice and made a note to eliminate it.
Lori put her head back and laughed. “Not everyone is as blessed with hair as awesome as Logan Jackson.”
He shrugged. “Just saying. I have no idea why she picked him.”
“I don’t know. Katie has been pushing her to meet one of them, I guess she just panicked.”
“Well, I’ll bet you anything the date doesn’t last two hours.”
Logan handed Lori her beer and she slid ten bucks over to him. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks, Lori. So, what do you think of him?”
“Hmm, I agree with you, he’s going home alone.”
Logan was relieved Lori thought the guy was lame, too, as she was pretty in tune with Harriet. The thought that Harriet might actually find the man attractive had vaguely crossed his mind and produced irrational thoughts.
Lori took a sip of her beer. “What about you, Logan? You found anyone new?”
“Who says I’m looking?”
“Well, it has been almost a month since you and Cassandra broke up.”
“I’m keeping my options open.” He pulled out his phone and went into his Tinder app. “You see who I got matched with?” Logan turned his phone around and showed her Harriet’s picture.
Lori’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God, that’s so funny. You show Harriet?”
Logan shook his head. He’d checked his account a few days ago, thinking about giving the app another try. The novelty of being single again was wearing thin. The first thing he saw when he logged on was that he had been matched with Harriet. At first, he’d found it funny, too, but then the more he thought about it, the more he realized Harriet was just the type of girl he’d like to meet. Once that idea had settled in his mind, he’d had a hard time thinking about pretty much anything else.
Logan looked at the picture he’d chosen for his profile and wondered if Harriet would know it was him. The picture he was using was an artsy shot an ex-girlfriend had taken a few years ago. Eliza had been into photography, and she captured a profile picture of him looking out over fields wearing a beanie. His face was in deep shadow, his features hidden, and his dark shoulder length hair that peeked out from under the bottom of his hat had long since gone. In this picture, he wore a beard, too, long and straggly. Eliza had loved it, but he shaved it off after they broke up. Perhaps the long hair and face fuzz would throw Harriet off. He was pretty sure he’d always been clean-shaven when she was around. Hmm, maybe he should update it since it really didn’t look like him anymore.
“I thought about liking her picture for a joke.”
Lori looked up at him. “You sure you’d be joking?”
Logan blushed and shoved his phone back in his pocket. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Lori winked at him and traced her finger round the rim of the glass. “Oh, I always thought you might have a bit of a thing for our Harriet.”
“We’re friends, Lori, end of story.”
“You sure about that? You have been staring daggers at Harriet’s date all night.”
“That’s only because I don’t think he is good enough for her. She doesn’t need another Nigel in her life.”
Lori took another swig of her beer. “Yeah, it’s about time she had a good guy for once. I stalked him, you know.”
“You did?”
The two of them looked at the Tinder guy again. “Yeah. His name is Reece, and he is divorced.”
“Jesus. I might go and knock a beer over him. She doesn’t need anyone with baggage either.”
“That’s what I told her, but she said we all have ‘baggage’ one way or another.”
“I suppose,” muttered Logan. His eyes went back to the couple, and his mood brightened. “Is it my imagination, or does Harriet look less into him now?” Harriet was sitting back in her chair, the smile from earlier a little more forced, and her arms crossed in front of her chest. Yeah, Reece didn’t seem to be making such a good impression on her now.
“Yup, he’s blowing it.” Lori shook her head.
“I think I’m going to see if they need anything.” Logan sauntered over to their table. He was breaking a promise, as Harriet specifically asked him to keep his distance, but the other two wait staff were busy at tables with large group.
He picked up the guy’s empty glass. “You want another?”
Reece looked across at Harriet. “Sure,” she said, with uncertainty.
Logan didn’t get the impression she was that keen, but then they’d only spent just over an hour together, she couldn’t possibly have made up her mind already.
The guy reached out and squeezed her knee as he gave his order. Logan concentrated on writing it down, but couldn’t help but notice the surprised expression on Harriet’s face. She pulled her knee away from his hand.
“Coming right up. You want any food with that?”
“Yeah, why not? What do you fancy, H?”
Logan spluttered, as he tried to suppress a laugh. Oh, Harriet was gonna love that. She scowled at Reece, who didn’t seem to notice. “The mozzarella sticks are great.”
“Huh, I’m lactose intolerant.”
“Well, then, the coconut shrimp are yummy.”
“Sorry, no can do. I’m allergic to shellfish.”
Harriet picked up the menu, but Logan knew she was making a point. Harriet knew the bar menu by heart. “Bruschetta?”
“Is it gluten-free bread?” Reece asked Logan.
“Sorry, it isn’t.” Actually, Logan wasn’t in the least sorry. He was currently wondering if Mr. ‘Sensitive Stomach’ would notice if he brought them out an appetizer that combined shrimp, cheese, and bread. It might be fun to watch him sprint off to the bathroom,
