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“Oh, yeah, I did that quite a few times,” Grace said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.

I liked talking to her. This had never been my MO. In the past, it was dinner and then going home with them—mutually agreed upon, of course. But this felt natural and easy, and I wanted more of it.

“I do think you jumping in the Mississippi River earned you a lot of points.”

“With you too,” I pointed out.

“You know what I figured?”

“What?”

“That my lucky star is rising again.”

“I’m not following,” I said as walked toward the parking lot.

“I’ve always thought that each of us has a lucky star. I figured mine went into hiding for a while, but now I think things are finally turning around. I mean, things have been going super well for a while with the company and everything, but this feels different.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “You’re going to get along excellently with Isabeau and Celine.”

“What? Why?”

“Because they believe in esoteric stuff as well, like luck and plants having specific powers.”

She laughed. “Zachary, we live in New Orleans. Don’t tell me that you don’t have some curiosity about the supernatural.”

“I truly don’t.”

“That’s a sacrilege!”

We both laughed at that.

“Hey, it would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn’t it?” I asked.

“That’s true. Now I’m looking forward to seeing your grandmothers even more.”

“I’m looking forward to seeingyou.”

Yeah, Grace wasn’t the only one laying all her cards on the table today.

“Me, too, but I’m not sure when.”

“This week is going to be crazy again?” I guessed.

“Something like that, but every week is crazy, to be honest.”

“We’ll find time. Don’t stress about it.”

“How are you so relaxed about everything?”

“Why not? There’s no rush to do anything. Summer evenings are endless, as are the weekends. The world is ours for the taking, Grace. No pressure.”

“Every time we talk, I like you more.”

“Are you sure it’s just the talking that makes you like me?” I asked when I finally reached the car. “Not all those orgasms?”

I took immense pleasure in hearing her sharp intake of breath. I liked surprising her—switching from serious to flirty to dirty talking.

“Now that you bring it up, I do think you have a point.”