The Blind Date by Landish, Lauren (suggested reading .txt) 📕

happily ever after with BlindDate. Why can’t others too? Especially if it helps Riley too.

Chapter 23 Riley

“Rowf!” Raffy barks from beneath my feet.

I click Save on the draft I’m working on, a post about a new pair of earrings made from entirely recycled e-waste. You’d never be able to tell by looking at them, but the hoops used to be part of a smartphone. The core of the hoop is aluminum that’s been coated in gold, with twin baubles that look like polished jade but are actually ground up circuit board plastic that’s been recast and then shaped by hand.

The earrings aren’t from a sponsor company but rather an opportunity to support a good cause. Not everyone can get out and volunteer, though I definitely highlight that on my page, but we can all have an impact on bettering the world. Like donating e-waste to a small company who reuses it creatively, supporting them with our purchase power, and encouraging the causes we believe in like recycling.

I’ve got the bulk of the post done, including some statistics and important information, but I want to find or write the perfect quote to use as the tagline to really inspire my Sunshiners.

“I know, Raffy. I’m ready too, but we’re waiting on—” I start before there’s a knock at the door. “Never mind, there’s Noah now. You ready to walk?”

At the familiar word, Raffy goes nuts, running around and barking. I try to get him to calm down while opening the door for Noah. “Hey, come on in. Let me get Raffy’s leash on or he’ll probably make a run for it.”

We don’t have any specific plans tonight, having talked about a nice, long walk and dinner but not much else. I like that, though. It’s a blend of Noah’s need to have the whole evening mapped out and my confidence that something spontaneous will happen and it’ll be great.

Will we get takeout or find some hole in the wall diner neither of us has ever been to? Maybe skip dinner entirely and only eat ice cream? As long as we know there will be food of some sort, it’s enough of a plan for us both.

Noah comes in, closing the door behind himself and telling Raffy, “You’d better behave, man. You have a cushy gig here . . . good food, daily walks, allowed to get on the couch, and the prettiest mama ever.”

“Aw, you’re so sweet,” I say, standing to greet Noah now that I’ve got Raffy’s leash hooked to his collar. I meet Noah’s lips with mine, soft and tender, but suddenly, I fall into him. “Ahh!”

He stumbles too but manages to stay steady on his feet. Looking down, I see that Raffy has run a full circle around us in his excitement, wrapping us in the leash and tying us together.

“Raffy, are you ever going to stop being a fluffy cockblocker?”

“Technically, he was tying us together this time,” I say with a flirty twist of my lips.

He might be grumpy about Raffy’s interruption, but Noah pats Raffy on the head as he safely untangles our feet. Raffy tries to jump into Noah’s arms, but there’s no way he could get that high, even with a running leap from the couch.

“Rowf!”

“I’m gonna hold you to that promise later,” Noah promises.

I pull on running shoes, noting that Noah must’ve gone home before coming over because he’s in gray sweats, cut off at the knees, a white T-shirt, and running shoes. I haven’t seen him in full casual gear too often, but he does seem to have a propensity for gray sweats since I mentioned them. Sweet, sexy man.

We get outside, and Raffy immediately beelines for his tree. While Noah and I both turn our backs to give him a bit of privacy, Noah asks, “How was your day?”

“Amazing, actually. The reveal post is getting tons of likes and comments, mostly positive, which I’m sure is because of the ‘male model’ I’m with.” I tease him, and he gives me a Zoolander Blue Steel model look, pursing his lips and eyeing me vacantly. I laugh and push at him, but he doesn’t budge.

“And I posted India’s photos, which are blowing up in a major way for us both. The sponsorship meeting about the candles went really well too. They’re sending me the contract and samples to review. But the best part? Well . . . the first best part? I met a woman named Myra right here in this very spot. She told me how she spread sunshine and ended up with a new job at a time when she really needed it.”

My smile stretches my cheeks. I’m still so over the moon excited for Myra.

“She’s a Sunshiner?” he clarifies, and I nod. “That’s great. Inspiring the masses, that’s my girl. And the second-best part?” Noah prompts, reminding me.

“Huh? Oh, yeah,” I tell him as we start to walk down the block. “I had lunch with Eli. It sounds like he and Arielle are going to figure stuff out. It’s just going to take some time. She’s skittish, especially of Eli.”

His lips curl in a snarl. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing. My sister and Eli? I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with that.”

“Arielle’s a big girl, and she’s making Eli work for it,” I say as I pat Noah’s chest soothingly. “It sounds like he’s going to stick around through the obstacle course to get Arielle’s heart, though. Gotta give him credit for that.”

“How about if I give him credit after he sticks around and makes her happy? Till then, I’m reserving judgment and protecting Arielle.”

He sounds like every big brother of a little sister, and the idea makes me laugh a little. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate the restraint before you jump into her love life. It’s progress, at least.”

“Is it concerning that my not killing him before he can hurt her is considered progress?” he muses.

I tap my chin like I’m giving it serious thought. He’s not a real risk to Eli