Page 18 of The One You Want

Marc turned to Gray. “Help me out here. You travel several times a year for business alone. Wouldn’t having a cat be easier?”

Gray shrugged. “Maybe. But I grew up with dogs. There’s nothing like coming home to a wagging tail and a pet who’s just so happy to see you. Cats aren’t like that. At least all the ones I’ve met at exes’ places.”

Marc turned to Maggie. “See. Chicks like cats.”

Maggie rolled her eyes and turned to Rose. “Help.”

Rose slid off her stool. “I’ll let you explain how sexist that is and that chicks adore guys who like dogs and cats.”

“Duly noted.” Gray lifted his chin at Marc. “Dogs are chick magnets.”

Marc sneered. “You live alone with no pets.”

“If I had a woman who wanted to get a dog together, I’d do it.”

“But cats are cool. You can teach them tricks. They chill.”

Rose couldn’t disagree with Marc. “I’ll leave you two to work this out. Back in a minute.” She headed to the ladies’ room, dodging appreciative patrons as a girl with pink hair belted out the lyrics to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” like a pro. She was probably the best singer of the night. Rose hoped they gave her another turn soon.

Maggie rushed up behind her in the hallway leading to the bathrooms and wrapped her in a hug from behind, her chin on Rose’s shoulder. “Hey. Friends don’t let friends pee alone.”

Rose burst out laughing and kept walking even with Maggie holding on to her. “Someone’s feeling good.”

“Three margaritas and a week with my best friend... I’m so happy.”

Rose pushed open the ladies’ room door, stepped in, and waited by the sink because both stalls were occupied. “And are you also so happy because you’re marrying your cat-loving fiancé?”

Maggie took her by the shoulders and turned Rose to face her. “Do you like him? I really, really want you to like him, so that when you and Gray end up together we’ll all be friends and double-date and our kids will grow up together. Oh, they’re cousins so we’ll be family!”

Rose pressed her fingertip into her right ear. “That was really loud. And Gray and I just met. Don’t start planning a double wedding.”

Maggie released her shoulders and pointed at her. “He is so into you.”

“I really like him.” So much so that it made her a little giddy.

“He’s so hot. That thick hair. Those eyes.” Maggie sighed. “The way he looks at you.”

Rose smiled at her tipsy friend, an excited flutter in her belly, because she and Gray felt so meant to be. Even if that did sound crazy since they just met. “Trust me, I felt the impact of every look.” Like a caress, a pull, a longing. Something to savor and want more of all at the same time.

She’d be happy to sit and stare at him forever.

It felt so right it didn’t feel real.

Maggie suddenly frowned. “You haven’t said anything about Marc.”

“You haven’t let me get a word in,” Rose teased. “He’s great. Not like anyone you’ve dated.”

“That’s what I like about him. I know things moved fast.” Maggie tilted her head. “Kind of like how you reacted to Gray and he did to you. The second I met Marc, something just clicked. He pursued me. He called, texted, and asked me out like he couldn’t wait to see me again. I got caught up in the whirlwind of it all, and before I knew it, he was at my place all the time and we were talking about the future, kids—”

“Dogs versus cats,” Rose interjected with a soft laugh. “You fell for him.”

“I liked the attention and rush of it all.”

“And you’re happy?” Rose didn’t mean to say it as a question because it seemed evident that Maggie was excited about getting married. But in the moment, looking into her friend’s eyes and seeing something shadowed in the depths, she wondered if Maggie’s wedding jitters were something more.

“I’m happy,” she declared with a firm nod. “Absolutely. Even if he doesn’t want to sleep with me until our wedding night.”

“Girl, you should get some of that before you say ‘I do’ to be sure,” someone called out from one of the stalls. “You don’t want to find out he’s a dud instead of a stud in the sack.”