Page 40 of Unbroken

I would have looked away if I could, but it was impossible.

Even from several feet away and across the room, Devon had the ability to make me feel calm and seen. It was a characteristic I’d always been in awe of.

There was a slow tightening in my chest the longer our gazes collided, and the urge to stand and walk over to him grew until Ivy and James walked between us.

Ivy smiled at me and slid the water across the table. Suddenly parched, I grabbed the glass and gulped.

I faced forward and was determined to keep my eyes that direction as well, except I could feel the heat of someone’s stare on the side of my face. Ivy hopped back into her seat and said something about an upcoming karaoke night, but I didn’t hear her exact words.

Apparently, I had no self-control because my eyes slid back to their table. I expected to see Devon watching me, but he was intently studying his drink. It was Piper whose stare was boring into the side of my face.

When I realized it, I looked away as quickly as I could, butnot quick enough to miss her eyes dart back over to Devon. Her eyes bounced back and forth between us, and I wanted no part of that silent interaction anymore.

Luckily, I couldn’t have paid attention to Piper even if I wanted to because Hazel was walking, better yet waddling, over to me. She stopped at our table, and Ivy began to stand.

“Do you want to sit?” she offered, but Hazel waved her off.

“No, thanks. Sitting, standing, breathing—it’s all uncomfortable right now. I think Luke and I are about to leave anyway. But,” she said, turning to look at me. “I’m planning a girls’ day at our house in the next few weeks. We wanted to do it sooner, but coordinating everyone’s schedules is tough. It’ll probably be the last time we can all get together before baby S is born.”

I nodded along, hoping my assumption was right and that I knew where she was going.

“Would you like to come?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her if she was sure, but I didn’t want her to question her decision. Because I really,reallywanted to go.

“Absolutely. I would love to come,” I said.

“Great, I’ll get your number from Amanda and text you the details.”

She waved goodbye and followed Luke out of the room and into the main part of the bar.

Less than a second later, Amanda bounced back over to our table. Her excitement was palpable as she reached for my hand and squeezed once.

“See, I told you!” she exclaimed. “Just a little bit of patience. Also, our new bartender, Grant, may or may not be heading over here to talk to you. And if you need me to run interference, I need you to tell me immediately. Otherwise, Ivy and I are going to make ourselves scarce.”

Two years later and Amanda still spoke a mile a minute. It took me a little bit longer to catch up, but when I did, my eyesdarted past her, and I noticed the tall, brown-haired guy walking toward us.

I hadn’t been on a date or even thought about it since…and I wasn’t sure that was the right time to start. But the closer he got, the less I felt like I had an option to say no. And the more I realized that maybe I was ready. The terrifying, debilitating feeling that had come over me when I’d considered it before didn’t appear.

“Okay, thanks for the heads-up,” I said. Amanda’s smile widened, and she grasped Ivy’s hand. She led her over to the rest of the group and waved at the guy, Grant, as they passed by him.

“Hi,” he said, coming to a stop next to the table. He had a kind, easy smile, and the black Murphy’s Law T-shirt he wore stretched across his chest and emphasized the muscles beneath it. “I’ve been standing behind that bar all night, hoping you’d come over and order a drink, but no luck.”

I was so out of practice. I sucked in a shaky breath and said the first thing that came to mind. “So, what? You’re just making your own luck now?”

Delighted surprise flitted across his face, and he leaned in a little closer. He propped his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together.

“I guess you could say that I am. I’m Grant,” he said, offering me his hand.

I took it and was thankful when he dropped it in an appropriate amount of time. He smiled, and we began the slightly awkward tradition of trying to preliminarily gauge if there could be anything more. Which meant the small talk had fully commenced.

But he was sweet and mostly engaging. He had just started working at Murphy’s a few weeks ago and was in his midtwenties. He was a little younger than I would have entertained, but he was nice to talk to, and it didn’t have to go any further.

Grant glanced over his shoulder. The crowd around the bar had grown, and he straightened.

“I guess I should get back to work, but it was so great to meet you, Blakely,” he said. “Does my luck extend to getting your number?”

I returned his smile and was about to answer, but the words died on my tongue.

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