Two & a half years ago
You know when you’ve had a long day at work and everything that could have gone wrong did, and all you want to do is go home, take off your pants, pour a glass of wine, and order a pizza?
That was all I wanted: pants off, wine poured, pizza delivered, in that order.
I definitely did not want to open my apartment door and find my boyfriend of three years plowing the single mom who lives next door.
And if that wasn’t enough…the baby she’s been taking care of by herself for the last year?
His.
That means practically from the moment we moved in together, he was sneaking around with her.
I’m a fool for not seeing it before now. All those times he went over there to help her fix something in her apartment? I thought he was simply being a good neighbor. I had no idea he was busy falling for her.
When he helped build the crib for her baby? I thought he felt bad that the dad wasn’t around. I had no idea he was assembling furniture for his own child.
The worst part of it all? I liked her. I babysat for her! I helped buy diapers for her.
I am such an idiot.
The Dick Who Shall Not Be Named offered to let me have the apartment, but I couldn’t stand the thought of living next door to them.
The whole thing felt like a sign, like it was finally time to move on from the small-town life and get out from under the boss I hated so much. So with the small savings I had in my bank account, I quit my job and moved to Bartlett. With a good word from my uncle, I was able to secure a social media manager position that gave me a very nice pay raise.
That’s what I’m doing here tonight at some place called Slapshots—I’m celebrating.
By myself.
Because I left all my friends behind too, including my best friend, Hollis. So, that’s why I’m currently sitting at the bar alone on a Friday night.
Whatever. At least I’m not sitting at home crying into my pint of Ben & Jerry’s like I have for the last two weeks.
I take a sip of my whiskey sour and glance around. There are several smaller groups dispersed throughout the space as well as a large crowd around the other end of the bar. The music is loud, but not so loud you’d have to yell to talk to someone.
Not like I’m talking to anyone anyway.
I let out a long sigh. Maybe I should just head home. I’ll lie and tell Hollis I stayed the whole time. She’ll never know the difference.
My cell phone buzzes against the bar top.
Hollis: Don’t you dare think about leaving.
I gasp, looking around, half expecting her to be in the bar somewhere.
Hollis: And before you freak out, no, I’m not hiding in the corner. I just know you, Em.
Me: I was totally thinking of bailing.
Hollis: I know you were.
Hollis: Just stick it out. Even if you don’t meet anyone, you can say you did it, and that will make next time easier.
Me: NEXT TIME?!
Hollis: Yes, next time. You’re going to have to meet new people somehow.
Me: Can’t I just wait until I start work next week?
Hollis: And do what in the meantime? Wallow in your new apartment? Not happening. If I were there (and I know, I know, I’M NOT), you know we’d be out on the town right now, prowling around the bars trying to get you laid.
Hollis: So that’s what I want you to do. Prowl. Get laid. Forget about TDWSNBN (I motion to shorten that to just The Dick). Find someone who will rock your world for one night (maybe two if you’re lucky) and be the badass bitch you are.
Hollis: Find a new dick to replace the old one.
I know she’s right. I could easily spend another night buried in ice cream and watching movies that make me sob, but why waste the empty calories and energy on a man who didn’t love me? I don’t need to treat myself like crap just because he did.
The sooner I realize that, the sooner I can get back to being me.
Me: Motion approved.
Me: And you win. I’ll stay.
Hollis: There’s my girl!
Hollis: Now, push your shoulders back, lift that chin, and…wait, is there anyone sitting next to you?
Me: There’s a girl on one side (gorgeous but I’m not into chicks) and the other seat is empty.
Hollis: Good. You’re going to flirt with the next guy who sits next to you.
Me: The very next one?
Hollis: Yep. No exceptions. If he’s not your type, consider it practice.
Me: Okay. I can do that.
Hollis: YOU GOT THIS!
Hollis: And if you do go home with anyone…
Me: Turn on Find My Friends. I know, Mom.
Hollis: Love you.
Me: Love you more.
I set my phone back down on the bar.
That’s when I notice someone’s taken the seat next to mine.
He’s not paying a lick of attention to me, his gaze wholly focused on the empty glass in his hand. He’s older, a bit of gray peeking through the dark hair around his temples and in his beard. His skin is tanned, and there’s a bump to his nose that makes it look like he’s broken it a time or two. A scar cuts through his eyebrow, and I really want to reach out and run my finger across it.
Even with the imperfection in his brow and the frown pulling those thick lips down, he’s still handsome.
You’re going to flirt with the next guy who sits next to you. No exceptions. If he’s not your type, consider it practice.
I take a steadying breath and decide to go for it.
“You know, my mama always told me if a man is frowning that deep, it means one of two things: he’s had his heart broken, or his dick don’t work.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m just repeating what she said is all.”
I turn toward him and nearly gasp when I gaze into his amber eyes.
Oh…this man? He is definitely my type.
I don’t even bother to try to hide my attraction to him, letting my tongue roll over my now drying lips.
“Though I’m going to guess it’s not the latter.”
He raises a dark brow. “That so?”
“Yep.” I stick my hand out toward him, hoping it’s not clammy because what the hell am I doing? I push the insecurities away and say, “Emilia. And you are?”
He glances down at my outstretched hand like he’s not sure if he should shake it or not. When he finally slides his palm against mine, I have to fight the shiver trying to work its way down my back.
“Smith.”
