Page 9 of Third Time Lucky

Thankfully, since she and Brandon are only cousins, she doesn’t remind me of him looks-wise.

If she did, seeing her would hurt more than it already does.

He had us all fooled, including his family, who were upset after Vegas.

Rightfully so. They’d already paid for our honeymoon – three weeks in Thailand – which he went on with his brother without a budget.

I don’t even want to imagine what went down on that trip.

All I know is that he wasn’t murdered or thrown into a dungeon somewhere to rot.

Unfortunately, he made it home safe and sound and has been seen around the dating apps my friends use.

‘Ladies,’ a waiter stops at our table, sets our drinks in front of us, and takes our order – which is borderline embarrassing as we each order two desserts, no actual food. ‘I like how you two think,’ the man says before walking to another table.

‘How’s Mitzi today?’ Madi asks.

‘She’s hiring a private chef because, apparently, I need to learn how to cook.’

She laughs. ‘She said that?’

‘No. She said she’s hoping he rubs off on me.’

‘Ooh! That’s dirty and fancy all at once, isn’t it?’

I nod. I’d say the dirty part was unintended, but Mitzi can occasionally throw shocking things out that surprise me. Like, can she search for a hot young male chef? Jeesh. If she actually hires someone fitting that description, I don’t know what I’ll do.

‘What kind of food?’ Madi asks.

I shrug. ‘No idea. But I’m hoping he comes with a suggestion box.’

‘Jackpot,’ she laughs. ‘Maybe he’ll be cute too?’

‘That’d be a bonus, considering I work from home and have to look at him all day.’

That’s gonna be weird.

I’m a graphic designer who freelances. Dad was thrilled when I told him I was changing my major from pre-law to the arts.

That’s a lie. He was so mad. ‘ You could offer the world so much more!’ he insisted.

But did I want to? What’s wrong with what I already offer the world?

Nothing – in my mind. Finally, after months of explanation, I got him to understand that my worry-wart nature wouldn’t let a lawyer become one of my personalities.

He recoiled and got on board. Anyhow, now I work right from Mitzi’s place and mainly focus on creating visual identities and marketing materials for companies.

Boring. But every so often, I get to work on fun projects like designing book covers and album art. That makes up for the rest.

‘Good thinking,’ Madi says in a proud tone. ‘Note to self: start visiting Mitzi more.’ She acts as if she’s writing it down on a pad of paper. ‘Also, take her advice and let the man rub whatever he wants. You deserve it.’

‘Sure,’ I laugh. ‘Nothing weird about three grown women ogling a guy as he cooks for them dreaming of him rubbing things.’

‘Men have been doing it to us for centuries,’ she says. Her gaze suddenly darts from me to something behind me. ‘Speaking of men, that one there seems to have an eye for you.’

I freeze – hoping I disappear. ‘Are you serious? No.’

She cocks her head. ‘Stop acting like you’re some sort of troll right now, Missy. It’s not at all shocking that a man would admire you. You are a catch.’

‘No, I’m not. Though, if catching turds and labeling them my fiancé is a talent, I’d win first place.’

Madi laughs loudly. ‘All I’m saying is you need an outlet. He seems interested, give the guy a joy ride.’

‘Uh…’ I laugh nervously. ‘That’s you joy riding men, not me.’

She nods, not disagreeing at all. ‘And I haven’t been sad in ages. Maybe we should switch personalities Freaky Friday style? You use men for your pleasure, and I’ll look for love. Deal?’

‘Ha! No deal. Should I look?’

She shrugs. ‘That’s up to you. If you do, he’s going to think you’re eyeing him back.’

‘He’s staring? At me? Are you sure?’

Madi nods, unable to wipe the goofy smile off her face. ‘He hasn’t looked away since you sat down.’ She sips her drink, acting casually like we’re not speaking of him.

I grit my teeth. ‘Does he look like a turd?’

‘You think the entire male species looks like turds right now.’ She reminds me. ‘But no time to overthink it because he’s on his way over.’ The words leave her lips quickly, telling me he’s en route as she speaks.

‘Crap!’

‘Hi,’ a male voice to my left says.

Madi and I both sit up straighter as we look up at the man. Tall, dark, and handsome.

‘Hi,’ we say in unison.

He glances between us, his eyes stopping on Madi. ‘I apologize, but I couldn’t help but come over and tell your friend how gorgeous she is.’

His gaze meets mine, and for a second, a flutter of something floats through my chest. It’s been a hot minute since anyone called me gorgeous.

Madi rolls her eyes with a chuckle. ‘Don’t fret, hon. I know how beautiful she is. I’ve got eyes. But definitely you should tell her. She needs to hear it.’

‘You’re beautiful.’ He does as he’s told and smiles wide as he says the words, not even attempting to tear his eyes from me. ‘I’m Tanner.’

Tanner is beautiful, with dark hair, dimples, tan skin, and big brown eyes staring at me in a way that I haven’t experienced in many months. Is he undressing me? Or admiring me? The line is fine.

‘She says “thank you,”’ Madi says, kicking me from under the table. ‘Tanner, this is Lucy Gray. She’s in her thirty, flirty and thriving era as of sixty days ago and beyond single. You two should definitely chat while I run to the little girls’ room.’

With that, she stands from her seat, offering it to Tanner, who happily sits.

On her way to the bathroom, she glances back and mouths the words, ‘Talk to him – he’s cute.’

Oh my God. She set this up.

‘Lucy Gray,’ Tanner repeats. ‘That’s a good name.’

I laugh nervously. ‘I’ve got no complaints about it.’

But I do have a complaint for my BFF for once again setting me up and surprising me.

She did this with Gabe a few months ago, only he met us at a nightclub when she insisted I drag myself out of bed, dress up and go out.

‘ Out is good for depression ,’ she claimed.

It wasn’t. Gabe called me every day for weeks after I’d had one too many cocktails and let the guy kiss me.

Big mistake. Total turd. Terrible kisser.

She means well, but her matchmaking ways have been revoked after Brandon and Gabe, so pass.

‘Ladies.’ Our waiter stops at our table, second glancing Tanner sitting where Madi was, carefully setting four desserts and two fresh drinks down, filling our small table.

‘Wow. You two have a sweet tooth, eh?’ Tanner asks, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a wallet. ‘How about I just leave you with this and say – call me sometime?’ He hands a business card my way.

I take the card and read the words to myself. ‘Tanner Scott – Attorney at Law.’ Ugh. Of course, he is. He’s dressed to the nines, professional and gorgeous, I should have guessed. Please, Lord, don’t let my father find this business card.

‘Maybe?’

‘Call me maybe?’ he says with a smirk, lifting his phone to his ear.

Now it’s awkward.

‘Yeah… I’m not gonna lie, you’re very pretty. However, I’m sort of on a dating hiatus right now, bu?—’

‘Buuuut,’ Madi comes buzzing back over as if she wasn’t in the bathroom at all but hovering somewhere just out of sight listening. ‘She’ll reconsider that and shoot you a text in the coming days. Sound good?’

‘My phone’s always on,’ he says, winking.

Tanner looks like he doesn’t get shot down a lot, but he doesn’t press and just waves before leaving the restaurant altogether.

‘Did you set this up?’ I ask Madi as she sits back down, her eyes on the chocolate in front of us.

‘What?’ she asks, her tone saying everything. ‘I don’t even know the guy.’

‘Might I remind you that lying well doesn’t run in your family?

’ I say, noticing the flash of stormy waters in her eyes.

‘I told you, Mads, you’re banned from all future set-ups.

You’re two to zero, my heart is long gone, and I’m over dating.

Romance or love or even a strong liking – whatever you want to call it – I’m no longer looking for it. ’

‘You’re officially on a man ban?’

Ooh. I like that. I nod. ‘That’s right. From here on out, man ban. Got it?’

‘Fine,’ she says with a sigh. ‘But for the record, that one found you.’

‘No,’ I say, pretty sure I’m right about this. ‘At some point in the not-so-distant past, I’d bet money Tanner Scott found you, and you thought of me, and here we are.’

She laughs, stabbing her fork into one of her desserts. ‘You’re having some wild thoughts. Now, catch up to me; I’ve already started my second drink. And don’t lose that card. One night at two in the morning, you’ll think of Tanner, and from my lips to your ears, he’s not opposed to booty calls.’

‘For the record, if I booty call him, you start looking for love.’

Her smirk says everything – that is never ever happening.

I drop my head toward the ground with a groan. ‘The fact that he pulled off chivalry so well when all he wants is to get laid is a tad disturbing. How is a woman ever supposed to trust again?’

‘They can’t all be gentlemen,’ she says through a bite of chocolate ganache that she closes her eyes for. ‘Sometimes we need someone to ravish us to remember how we should be worshipped.’

A thought that hadn’t crossed my mind. Have I ever been worshipped by a man? Once. But I’m not sure teenage puppy love counts.

‘You are something else,’ I say, knocking back the rest of my drink so I can make it through the evening.