Chapter 98

Lindey was taken aback, but then she softened into a warm, knowing smile.

"What are you saying? You can't just swear off men because of Jace. Yeah, there are some duds out there, but trust me, there's still plenty of good fish in the sea," Lindey said with her usual humor, still cracking jokes like she was half her age.

Even in her fifties, she was as trendy and upbeat as ever.

I couldn't help but smile too. "There are good men, but I'm just not in the right mindset for that right now. At least, not yet. I need some time."

I said it to gently steer her away from whatever else she might be planning to suggest. Some things were better left unsaid—crossing that line could make things awkward real quick.

"Fair enough," she replied, letting me breathe a little easier.

But then, she hit me with a curveball. "Just don't wait too long, Rea. Finding a good boyfriend is like anything else—the best ones get snapped up fast."

I laughed, and so did Lindey.

"You're so beautiful, seriously. A