“The back yard?” I gasp. “At a party?”
“There was this little shed. Anyway, then we had a date. Then again at Billy’s party, we made out in front of everyone and had sex in Billy’s bathroom! And then I never heard from him again.”
Biting my lips, both of them sucked into my mouth I nod, “Yeah, that…sucks.”
“I’ve been really horrible about this. I don’t want to be jealous. I didn’t know that’s what was going on with me.”
“I don’t want you to be, either. Do you want me to be happy?”
“Of course!”
“Then go in there and take one of those three-hour-long baths of yours with the eucalyptus and candles and sea salt and magic herbs from Kroger...” I pause while she laughs at the name of our supermarket, which does not have magic herbs. Her dealer does. The legal kind. “Rest, cry, let it all out, because you need to make room for the right man to come. Nicholas can’t take this space in your heart anymore, Lita, okay?” I lean in to maintain eye contact. “You know what I believe? Your guy is out there, if you let go of this one. I know that sucks to hear, but trust me. We had this one man who was hung-up on a woman he loved who didn’t love him back, for forty-seven years! He was such a sweetheart but never gave love to anyone and he died.”
Lita stares at me. “That’s so dark, Diana.”
“So what? It’s life! It’s going to be dark all the time later on, so let some light in now! Nicholas isn’t worth your time.”
“Yes he is.”
“No, he’s not. He’s worth your admiration, sure, because you found him very attractive. I’m not taking that away—”
“But not worth more of my time. I hear you. I just like seeing you all worked up.”
I stare at my red-eyed roommate until a grin breaks free. “Very nice. Good. You have your sense of humor. My work is done.” I wipe my hands and stand up, smoothing a dress I bought a long time ago but that never felt right to wear until tonight.
“You look beautiful,” she smiles.
Taking a deep breath, I lock eyes with her. “Thank you.”
“I promise I won’t be jealous if this works out.”
Cocking an eyebrow I dryly confess, “I have no delusions about this working out. I’m just excited, and that’s enough for me.”
A knock at the door turns that excitement up ten-thousand-notches. Racing for my bag and keys on the accent table, I check my red high heels for dust—that’s how long they’ve waited for some fresh air and possibilities.
“Lita, just in case…” I look back to where she’s sitting, watching me. “How do you know you won’t be jealous? Or were you just saying that?”
She shrugs, “It doesn’t feel like it’s there anymore,” wiping her right eye, the one with more mascara running. “I think I just needed to tell you or something. I don’t know.”
“Huh,” I frown. “Are you having that bath?”
“It sounded really good, actually, yeah. I made some edibles, so I’ll have a brownie and a bath and maybe picture what I’m really looking for in a man.”
Another knock.
This time I don’t jump and I’m calm, until I open our beveled-wood door and smile, “Hi Wyatt.”
My pulse quickens at the sight of him, standing on our porch with a mish mosh of potted plants around him, his meaty hands shoved into the pockets of black jeans, a black shirt pulled taut across broad shoulders and round pec muscles.
His gaze drops to slowly drink me in all the way from my toes on up. “Diana, you are gorgeous. That dress…Your smile. Wow.” He closes his eyes for a second and gives his head a little shake, smile growing.
Right now, I’m the only girl in the world.
Pulling one of his hands free, his calloused open palm is offered to me. “You ready to go, Beautiful?”
I think I know why May fainted that night.
CHAPTER 27
WYATT
A fter dinner and a movie, Diana and I are at a restaurant I’ve never been to, grabbing a drink since neither of us wanted to go home yet. I’ve been enjoying making her laugh, and she’s gotten more than a few from me, too.
Dim lights and low music made this a perfect choice, so I led her to the bar where two seats waited for us—the only ones in the place.
She’s sitting with her legs not crossed thanks to the healing bruise we’re responsible for, sexy red heels perched on the stool’s foot-rest. Her frozen margarita is half full, and she’s leaning in to ask me, her breath sweet, “What do you mean revolving door restaurant?”
“It’s what I call a location where the restaurant that leases it never last. This spot we are sitting in right here and now was something else last year. And the year before, and on and on. They open strong, like now, and then peter out. Doors shut for good every time.”
“Until someone buys it and opens them again under a different name.”
“Exactly. Management doesn’t matter. Some have been pretty awesome. Star chef, the works. It’s the location. Something’s wrong with it. Cursed maybe.” I drink my bottle of Sweetwater Ale, enjoy the chilled bitterness slipping into my throat before I share with her, “My parents used to own Crash and Burn. You know them?”
“I do!” Diana’s pretty eyelashes flutter as she pictures the past. “I’ve been to Burn a few times when I was a kid! My parents loved the menu. That belonged to your family?”
“My mom’s an amazing chef. She created all those dishes.”
Diana grins, “No way!” reflecting on the memory. “I never heard her name or I might have placed it. When you’re a kid you don’t really notice things like that. I just wanted to eat. My parents are the foodies. They love going
