Page 198 of The Last Good Man

This is the place where I see myself cooking spaghetti, drinking wine, and listening to music. Taking long walks around the neighborhood, jogging, and drinking lattes around the corner.

The place is perfect for a single woman, and inmany ways, it speaks to that.

There’s no need to think about me and someone else in the space, which is scary and freeing at the same time, and maybe it’s the answer.

So, in a way, I’m happy with how I feel about that place. On the other hand, it’s expensive, and my mother and I discuss that over food.

“It’s doable, but I’d need to secure a large down payment before financing the rest.”

“Your father and I could help with the down payment,” she says, and I flick my hand in disagreement.

“No. Absolutely not. First off, I have my savings. And secondly, I have to do it on my own. It’s just that I’m not ready for that kind of commitment.”

She sets her fork down and looks at me.

“What would nudge you in one direction or the other?” she asks as I chew on my food.

“I don’t know,” I say, averting my eyes and focusing on my food.

“You don’t know? Or you don’t want to talk about it?”

“Both,” I say, lifting my gaze.

Our eyes connect.

“It doesn’t have to do with men, I hope,” she says, resuming eating.

I chuckle quietly.

“Absolutely not. That aside, I’m going through a strange phase right now, and men are part of it.”

“They always are…” She gestures dismissively. "But tell me more,” she adds, smiling.

I give her a few pointers, and she listens patiently before commenting.

“These men you’re seeing… Thomas, Emile, and whoever else,” she says, bringing her wine to her lips.

She takes a drink and puts the glass down before grabbing her fork and knife.

“These men are not looking for something serious. And I’m not saying that you should…” she says, gesturing with her fork. “But if you’re looking for something serious, do yourself a favor and avoid these people. Men who want what you want don’t wastetheirtime wining and dining a woman. The first thing they do after you’ve caught their eye is try to get to know you better. There is urgency in them. They’re not interested in bars, opera, theater, showing you off, and boasting about themselves. Playing games and all that crap. They want what you want. And they would do whatever they could to relay that to you. They want to share their life with the right person. So stop indulging these dudes. They’re just dudes. And I have nothing against that woman, Aretha…?”

“Stenson. Dr. Aretha Stenson.”

“Yeah. I’m sureshe’sa fine woman, but she won’t help you find a good man. She can tell you if you’re doing something wrong, but ultimately, it’s up to you to stop looking in the wrong places.”

“She kind of said the same thing.”

She gestures again.

“Yes. Maybe.”

“Looking in a different place is not that easy. I am who I am…”

My voice trails off as my eyes fly casually across the room and swiftly widen in disbelief.

Four men enter the restaurant, and one of them is Jax London.

My jaw slackens as I take them in.

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