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My mouth drops. “And this is a bad thing?”
“No. It’s… so romantic how he looks at me. I melt.”
“Did you sleep with him?”
“No,” she sighs, “but it was hard to hold out.”
“Then what’s up?”
“I can’t make it too easy for him. Can I? Besides, once he gets what he wants he’ll probably be like every other guy. It won’t last. It never does.”
I sit down beside her. “You can’t think like that.”
“I can’t help it. I’m thirty. Do you know how many bridesmaid dresses I have hanging in my closet? Twelve. Twelve times a bridesmaid, never a bride.”
“So? No one’s ever asked me to be in their wedding. You are so loved Luce. Look at how many people asked you.”
Her shoulders sag, fingers picking the frayed ends of the blanket on her lap, “I’m afraid. I’m a big-talker but when it comes down to it, I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Being left like my mom.”
“Oh, Luce.”
“Do you really think he looked at me all crazy?”
“Yes,” I snort, “the man had stars in his eyes.”
“He makes me feel like it could be real.”
“What?”
“Love at first sight.”
I pick up a pillow and bonk her in the head. “You’re just as daft as he is.”
“Chinese food and wine?”
“Sounds like the perfect ending to the weekend to me.”
My phone pings with a text.
Roger: Miss you already, sugar. Sleep tight.
Me:Miss my big bear.
Roger:Come to Poppa, sugar. You know where I am.
I bite my lip.
Me:Can’t. Hanging with Luce.
Roger:I’ll see you at Sassy’s then. Wear something pretty for me. No panties.
Me:I’ll try.
Roger:That’s an order darlin’. I’ll know if you lie about it.