Page 39 of Cakes for the Grump

“No. Wife.” He puts his hand on the bar counter so we can both see the ring.

“Fun. Is it date night?”

“Attempts at one,” says the stranger, laughing. “We’re already yawning. How about you? Are you with your friends?”

I am not. Two sets of eyes are burning up my back.

“Actually, I’m here with my boss and his friend.”

“Huh. That’s unusual. Everything okay?”

The man’s brows furrow and I can see him scanning my expressionwith genuine concern. “Do you want to sit with my wife and me? Or I can send my wife to the bar if you need help?”

“No, no.” I raise both my hands. “I actually approached you to flirt—but that was before you said you were married.” Deciding he might enjoy this next part, I quickly tell him about how Luke cast doubts on my ability to pick up so I have to prove him wrong.

“Don’t worry, I’ll try with someone else,” I say. “Sorry for talking your ear off.”

He taps his chin before pulling out his phone. “Actually, if you aresingle, I have a friend who isalsorecently single. Super nice guy. Dentist. He would murder me for doing this if you didn’t seem exactly like his type, which is why I’m going to take the risk. If you want his number, I can give it to you?”

I think about it, watching as the swamped bartender is back with the man’s beer and a side of fries. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on anactualdate. My ex left much to be desired, but that doesn’t mean I should give up trying for something serious with men altogether.

As a side benefit, good sex with a person you actually like raises the spirits, and mine could use some serious levitation.

“Sure, why not?” I find myself saying. “Thanks.”

He gives me the number, and then before he leaves, arms full of food and drinks, my new friend exclaims, “If you two end up getting married, I’m getting all the credit!”

When I go back to Luke and Theo, I flash the screen of my phone. “I got a number. Not his, but his recently single friend.”

“I knew you could do it!” exclaims Theo. He turns to Luke and waggles his eyebrows. “Didyou?”

There is no answer, only charged silence.

Peculiarly, I notice all the shots have been drained, but none are in front of Theo. All crowd around Luke as if he downed them.

Theo sees me look at them in confusion.

“He did say he wasn’t going to drink, didn’t he?” Theo’s voice drops to a scintillating whisper. “Wonder why that changed.”

“Shut up. Now.”

That’s Luke.

What’s his problem?

“Okay,” says Theo. “While that definitely lifted myspirits, I still don’t feel ready enough to put myself out there. How about another round of inspiration, Rita? There’s a really cute brunette with tree-trunk arms that eyed you down on your walk back to us.”

I—as discreetly as possible—look over my shoulder.

Thereisa brunette with boisterous arm muscles, and he is looking right at me.

Going up to him should be a slam dunk, though it doesn’t feel as satisfying. Maybe if I did some secret Kegel exercises, a spark will ignite.One, two, three.It doesn’t work, but distance might also be the issue. I’m about to get up to go again when —

“Stay,” orders Luke. Before I can tell him where to put it, he follows up with, “My turn.”

“Where are you going?” asks Theo.

“Apparently to entertain you,” says Luke.