Page 13 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

I groan. “Fine.” Getting back out there is the last thing I want to do. I can’t drop the idea that Sophie is the one for me, but it’s been over two months. If she can’t forgive me, I can’t keep holding on. It’s too fucking hard.

“Alright, I don’t know what’s going on, but it sounds like we are going out?”

Conceding, I nod. “We’re going out.”

Carter gets the hose, putting the fire out as Troy and I exchange smoky sweats for nice jeans and T-shirts. Reaching into my sock drawer for a clean pair, my fingers skate over the small cardboard jewelry box. I pull it from where it’s tucked in the corner and lift the lid. There’s a fine gold chain with a single charm. It’s a sun–the rays also made of gold and the inside is filled with little pink gems. A client Dad and I found a house for owns a jewelry making business. I saw this necklace a few weeks after Sophie and I broke up, but I couldn’t resist getting it. I planned to give it to her at Christmas, thinking we’d move past all of this by now. I guess not. I sigh, resigning to my fate as I push the box to the back of the drawer.

By the time we are ready, Carter already has my 4Runner warmed up. I slide into the passenger seat, Troy sitting in the middle back, leaning over the center console. “Jameson’s?”

“No way,” Carter says, turning the headlights on.

“Why not?” I challenge my brother. It’s the only bar Troy and I go to. His pseudo uncle owns it. Plus, it’s comfortable there. If I’m being forced into moving on, at least I can be in my zone.

Carter looks over his shoulder to back out of the driveway. “If you’re going to find new girls, you need a new scene.”

I know he’s right, but I let out a groan anyway.

“Do you need a slice of cheese to go with that whine?” My brother asks and Troy chuckles. I roll my eyes. I should have stayed home.

Ten minutes later, we miraculously find a parking spot along the curb up the street from the place my brother chose. Waiting in line to get our IDs checked, Carter squeezes my neck in a headlock before I can react. “First time out with my little bro,” he says, his knuckles pulling at my hair as he digs them into my head for a noogie. I squirm out of his grip, shoving him off and noting his navy blue shirt with “Nevada” and a picture of a wolf head printed across the front in white. He abandoned his green and yellow UO wardrobe the second he left. Traitor. I can’t believe I’m going to be seen in Duck territory with him.

“Not so little anymore.”

We take a step closer to the bar entrance. “Guess not. I can’t believe you’re old enough to legally drink.”

With my birthday being at the beginning of September, I barely missed the cut-off date for school, making me almost a year older than most of the people in my grade. I’m not complaining, though. It feels like I get an extra year going out with Troy and my fraternity brothers.

The bouncer hands back my ID, and I step into a packed bar. Neon blue light streams from the ceiling over the sleek black bar and surrounding high top tables. They’re dimmer over the empty space in the back for dancing.

“Hey.” My card isn’t even in my wallet when Carter’s hand slaps my chest before he points toward the bar. “What about her? She’s cute.”

I follow his line of sight. The girl leaning against the bar is cute. I sigh in defeat, knowing I should rip off the bandaid. “Yeah, alright.” I make my way to her, taking a breath and inhaling any good energy available around me. I feel like I’ve forgotten how to flirt with anyone who isn’t Sophie. I have no idea what to say, so I lead with my default setting.

“Hey. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” the pretty brunette says, slightly distracted attempting to get the bartender to notice her. Once she glances at me, she pauses, giving me her full attention.

“Are you a magician?”

“Huh? No . . .”

I don’t have to force a smile. “Because when I look at you, everyone else disappears.”

She bites back a laugh. “Does that work for you?”

I hold my hand out to wave down the bartender. “I’ve actually been waiting months to use it. You’re the lucky recipient. So, you tell me.”

“It’d work better if you could make a drink magically appear.”

“Your wish is my command.” I wink, and not even her eye roll can hide the way she leans in closer.

The bartender stops in front of us, and I let my new friend order before asking for a vodka Red Bull.

Thirty minutes later, Troy closes in on where I’m standing alone at the bar, the club music thumping through my body. “What happened? It looked like things were going well,” he yells.

“Yeah, her friends wanted to leave.”

“Did you at least get her number?”

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