Page 3 of Could Be Worse

I felt a little guilty about him spending so much money on me. I was twenty-three and should be providing for myself, but my dad was the best ever and wanted me to chase my dreams, even though all he wanted was to have his daughter close to home.

Well, his wish was about to come true…

I let out a frustrated scream and tugged myself back to the present. Reliving the day my world was destroyed would do me no good.

But the assholes who stole my chance to be the lead ballerina wouldn’t keep me down. I just had to face my family before I considered my options.

Not yet…

Spotting a sign for the Boulder Tap House, I took the exit. It was a cowardly thing to do, but I needed to calm down before I continued my journey home.

And my stomach was growling.

Cheese curds and a beer would help. Maybe two beers.

It’d been years since I’d eaten at this local chain. Never in Mankato. My dad had taken me to the one near Nova’s home in Fargo. It’d been our thing, when it was just me and him taking a quick road trip to visit my bestie during my childhood.

When I was older, he took me out on his Harley and made the whole day about us. Those were some of the best memories of my life.

Zane and Lexi would get so jealous, but Dad had told them it was our father-daughter date. He had done special things with my younger brother and sister too. He always made time for us and our mom.

My stomach hurt as I got out of the car, the same way it did before an audition. Nerves for sure. Or could it be bad juju, stopping at a place that reminded me of my dad? Maybe, but I was here, and the smell of charbroiled meats and fried foods guided me in.

As I entered the establishment, my excitement deflated. About a dozen other people had the same idea as me. Fantastic.

“How many?” the hostess asked.

“Just me.” I hadn’t noticed it was after five, a prime suppertime in the Upper Midwest.

“It’ll be twenty or so minutes for a table, but there’s room at the bar.” She assessed me. “If you’re twenty-one.”

“I am. Thanks.” I smiled and squeezed past a few people. The bar was packed as well. I shouldn’t have been surprised; it was a Friday evening. But honestly, after everything I’d been through, could this day get any worse?

Hush, Sadie. You don’t want to tempt fate…

Oh! An available spot.

I made a beeline for the stool, then noticed another woman dashing toward my chair as well.

“I saw this seat first,” my opponent said as we came upon the stool at the same time. She appeared to be older than me, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties, and an attractive blonde, dressed professionally. We weren’t each other’s competition beyond the seat at the bar. She eyed the man to our right, who I hadn’t noticed until now…

“I’m sorry, but this is mine. I was just coming back from the bathroom.” I nudged her aside and bumped into the gorgeous gentleman. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” I placed my hand on his firm bicep and stroked it softly.

His head whipped toward me, and he hiked a curious brow. “It’s all good.”

We stared at each other for a long second. Wow, he was hot. The corner of his pursed lips twitched, as if trying not to smile. He had the sexist scruff I’d ever seen and the bluest eyes I’d ever wanted to get lost in.

How had I overlooked him?

Just me and my one-track mind.

Until now, all I’d been able to think about was beer and fried cheese curds. I pushed those silly thoughts out of my head. Who could think of food with a gorgeous guy staring at them? Not me.

“Are you together?” The annoyed woman studied us. I would bet all the fried cheese curds I could eat that she’d hoped to hit on Mr. Hottie, but I’d beat her to him.

“Yes, we are. Right, honey?” I smiled at him as I would at the love of my life. To me, I was performing, like I had on stage since I was in kindergarten. But why were butterflies swirling in my once-icky-feeling stomach?

I hadn’t ever experienced such a strong attraction to a stranger, like I could jump onto his lap and kiss him until our clothes melted away and we were doing naked, naughty activities.

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