The Bookworm's Guide to Dating

tell me if Josh ever gets to join.”
I laughed and returned Kai’s hug. “Straight away.”
“Bye.” Kai grinned and wrapped his arm around her, guiding her out of the bar.
I slipped back into my seat and looked at Josh. “They’re never going to let you join, so just quit it.”
“Thank you,” Holley said. “Has anyone messaged you yet?”
I wrinkled my nose up.
“Messaged where?” Colton asked. “You didn’t put yourself on Craigslist for your birthday, did you?”
I smacked his arm. “No. I joined three dating sites.”
He snorted his beer. “You’re kidding, right?”
Josh’s eyebrows shot up. “You joined dating sites? What are you going to do with those?”
I glared at them both. “Go on dates?”
“No,” my brother said. “You’re not.”
It was nice to know he had faith in me.
Saylor took my phone from me and opened the Stupid Cupid app. “Three messages. Impressive, since we didn’t actually get around to cleaning up your mess of a profile.”
I glared at her, too. “Obviously, it’s not that bad.”
“Meh.” She opened the messages and clicked on the first one. “Not bad. He’s twenty-seven, an engineer, and lives in Talbot Ridge. That’s, what? Twenty minutes away? Thirty in traffic?”
“There is no traffic near Talbot Ridge,” Tori said. “Nobody goes to Talbot Ridge.”
“Well, it’s deeper into the mountains than we are and they’re pretty much cut off for at least three months a year, so…” I trailed off. “I don’t know. What does he look like?”
Saylor tilted the phone, and we all looked.
“He’s pretty hot,” Holley said. “Nearby, the right age, and obviously educated. Do you think he works at that big plant on the other side of Dartree Mountain?”
“I don’t know where else an engineer would work,” Colton said dryly. “Why am I looking at guys who think my sister is hot?”
“Because you’re lame and don’t have a life,” Tori answered. “Saylor, look at the next one.”
This time, Say put my phone flat down on the table for us all to look. “Okay, next up is Clive from Dartree Mountain. He’s twenty-nine, a divorce lawyer, and likes reading.”
“I should hope so if he’s a lawyer,” Holley said. “I almost considered law before I saw how much reading that required.”
“Yes,” I replied slowly. “And I’m sure library sciences required absolutely none at all.”
“Eh.” She shrugged a shoulder. “I like libraries. Not a big fan of criminals. It was an easy decision.”
Josh frowned at her before turning back to the phone. “He looks like a dick. Who else messaged?”
“Why does he look like a dick?” Tori asked.
“Just does.” Colton leaned over and clicked off the message. “They all look like dicks.”
“You’re no longer allowed to be part of the conversation.”
I took my phone back and locked it. “None of you are allowed to be a part of the conversation anymore.”
Saylor rolled her eyes. “Great. Nice one, Colt. Now she’s never going to get a date.”
Great. Nobody had any faith in me.
Considering I was also one of those people, I’d hoped maybe one of my friends thought I might have a little success.
Clearly, I needed new friends.
“Let’s get more drinks!” Holley slid out of the booth. “Say?”
“Sounds good.” Saylor followed and looked back. “Anyone else?”
I held up my half-full glass of wine in answer, and Josh did the same with his beer.
“Tori?”
“I was going to take a look at the karaoke. Can you get me another margarita?” Tori pushed Colt out of the way so she could get up. “Move, asshole.”
Colt got up and said, “Grab me another beer. I’m going to look at the book.”
“Why? We all know you’re going to sing Bohemian Rhapsody,” I said. “Every single time.”
“Holley, get some shots. I want her rapping Kanye by the end of the night.”
I shook my head as they dispersed to various areas of the bar. I was not in a Kanye mood tonight, and not even a tray of tequila shots was going to get me up and rapping Gold Digger like my life depended on it.
“So your goal this year is to date more.” Josh sipped his beer
I met his dark green gaze. “I figure it can’t hurt. It’s not like there’s a whole bunch of people in town to date, so I thought I’d try online.”
“That and you’re terrible at dating.”
I sighed. He really wasn’t wrong. “Yeah. That, too. At least if I meet someone online, the whole getting-to-know-you part is all online, right?”
“Mostly, I suppose.”
“Since I’m just as awkward online as I am in real life, I figure it won’t be such a surprise when I fuck up in person.”
Josh grimaced. “I don’t know. That’s a lot of awkward for one person, Kins.”
“Damn it. I know. I have no idea what I’m doing, and half the guys who seem to be on these apps are smart and work a lot so why would they want a small-town bookstore owner?”
“Why wouldn’t they want a small-town bookstore owner?”
I gave him a withering look. “Be realistic, Josh.”
“Why don’t I help you?”

CHAPTER THREE – KINSLEY
rule three: don’t immediately ask what their favorite books are.
“What?” I blinked at Josh. “Why would you help me?”
He shrugged, fiddling with the corner of a napkin. “Because you’re my best friend’s sister, and honestly, if someone doesn’t, you might never have a successful date.”
That was painfully true.
“How are you supposed to help me? It’s not like you can be there on a date to tell me what to do.”
“No, but I can help you with your profiles and find you dates. Help you not to be so shy and nervous and awkward on them.”
“Like a dating coach?”
“Exactly that.”
I screwed up my face. “I don’t think so. That just seems… weird.”
“How is it? I know you better than most people, and we’ve known each other almost our entire lives. I can help you, Kinsley.”
“Why would you help me date? Aren’t you single right now? It’s not like I’m capable enough to return the favor, is it?”
“Yes, I’m single. I don’t expect you to return any favors. And if it helps you, then it’s a