Page 46 of The Singles Club

Her hand went to my thigh, and I assumed she dropped popcorn again, but this time her fingers gave a squeeze.

I shifted a bit. “What are you doing?”

She leaned in, her lips inches from my ear as her hand traveled up my inner thigh. “Saving your…” She grabbed a handful of my crotch, and I instantly jumped to my feet. Popcorn went flying everywhere—and all over Lexy.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. As I went to reach for the popcorn bucket, I knocked over Lexy’s soda, and the thing landed right in her lap.

Her mouth hung open as she stared down at her soaked, ice-covered dress.

I went to help, but she held up her hands. “Don’t. I think you’ve helped enough already.” Lexy stood up, shaking the ice from her dress. “We should call this a day.”

With a hand to my forehead, I nodded in agreement. Lexy scooted around me and nearly tripped when I got up to give her more room. She shook her head and walked out the door.

My heart sat like a rusting anchor in my chest. Vivian almost had me convinced that my own theory about love was wrong. After all this time, to have another bad date… I was beginning to believe her theory was true, though I really wanted to be wrong.

* * *

Vivian

My brother was already waiting inside the Bistro du Midi when I arrived. Of course my mother wasn’t there yet, but we never minded her being fashionably late. It gave Benny and me a chance to catch up before we’d have to cater to whatever conversation she dictated. Midi was one of the few places I didn’t mind that made it onto Constance Hall’s list of acceptable brunch spots in Boston. It had a beautiful view of the Boston Public Gardens. There was a European touch to the place, but only a whisper of Paris. It was too modern to have the history many of the buildings in Paris had.

“Hey, Viv.” Benny kissed my cheek before I sat down at the table.

“Hi. Please tell me you ordered coffee.”

Before he could answer, the waiter came by and placed a steaming cup in front of both of us. I grabbed the small pitcher of cream and poured some into my coffee. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

I blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip. “How’s Jenny?”

He smiled. “Good. Oddly enough, I’m not tired of seeing her face during and after work.”

“Have you told Mom you’re dating your assistant yet?”

He glared at me. “No, and keep quiet about that.”

I tugged at my necklace. “You talk to Logan lately?”

He stirred sugar in his cup and set his spoon aside. “Please tell me you don’t still have a thing for him.”

“Of course not.” And I didn’t. I realized after my moment of clarity that I’d only thought I loved him because he was unattainable. And the fact that Logan’s current girlfriend was Crystal’s sister made him completely off-limits.

What I was really fishing for was any news about Lucas. Logan was close with his brother, Alex.

Benny sipped his coffee, his eyes narrowing. “What is it you really want to ask?”

“Have you heard any news about Lucas?”

“Aside from him getting into a fistfight with some hick from Maine? No.”

“That was almost a month ago. There’s nothing else?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Why do you want to know?”

Because I broke his heart and still haven’t forgiven myself for it yet.

I stared down at my coffee. “I may not be in love with Lucas, but I do care about him.”