Page 13 of Hat Trick

“I need to woohim.”

The song switches over the loudspeaker as I speak, and my slurred words come out an octave louder than is socially acceptable. Heads swivel in our direction, curious glances painting everyone’s expressions as they sip their cool brews and watch the spectacleunfold.

Cringing, I draw my shoulders down and bury my face into my hands. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I just saidthat.”

Zoe pats me on the shoulder like I’m a good dog. “Glad you’re finally admitting what we’ve known all along. You’ve screwed up,bad.”

“Wooing is a great plan,” Charlie jumps in, tapping the top of my head so that I’ll meet her gaze, “as long as you do it correctly. And if you’reserious.”

“Why wouldn’t I beserious?”

Her head cocks to the side. “Um, maybe because you’ve hadcountlessof opportunities to take him up on any of his offers to go out with him, and you’ve turned him down just as many times. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility to consider that you’re just interested because he’s no longer pining afteryou?”

“I don’t think he everpinedafter me,” I mutter, nevertheless feeling the sting of her words. I can’t help but wonder if they’re true. Anything’s possible and I’m definitely wasted right now. But . . . there’salsothe fact that the last two days have been alcohol-free, and I still haven’t been able to rid myself of the hollow feeling which gripped my soul the minute Marshall dismissedme.

“He pined after you,” Zoe confirms with a nod and a toss of her long, dark hair. “Pining was definitely involved. Fact is, Gwen, here’s a little tough love. You’re perfectly comfortable living the single life. I mean, I’m actually rather convinced that you enjoy it. When you do date, it’s always casual and rarely lasts longer than a week ortwo.”

While the words ring true, they also ring loud, as though I’m witnessing more of my sins being paraded out in front ofme.

Bitchy Gwen James. Icy Gwen James. Horrible GwenJames.

I know my faults, every last one ofthem.

Clearing my throat, I say, “That’s what I do, Zo, you know this. No-attached sex means there aren’t any hurt feelings when we go our separate ways. I don’t think I’m cut out for the ever-after sort ofthing.”

“Then what are you doing sulking about a lost opportunity with Hunt? If you don’t want to date or get into anything more permanent, what’s thepoint?”

I don’tknow.

I don’tknow.

I think of my mother, who I plan to visit tomorrow. She’s been divorced multiple times, and yet she still jumps into new relationships with complete abandon. In a way, I almost envy her for that. Because in that respect, the apple might as well have landed in anothercontinent.

I trust men to—excuse my language—fuck my body. Hell, I even trust them to make sure I orgasm. But I don’t trust men to choose me over someone else. And, if I’m being honest with myself, perhaps that’s always been my issue withMarshall.

I choose men who don’t want me for the long haul. They walk away faster than I can blink and I do thesame.

Marshall . . . Marshall wouldn’t end things so heartlessly, not with me. But when he does leave—they always do—I don’t think I could recover from that. Not really. Not in the same way that my mother can rant and rage for a few weeks before finding a new man tomarry.

There’s a seedling of doubt cracking my armor, a quiet question ofwhat if?What if Marshall didn’t abandon me? It helps that my best friends are happily in relationships, too, although I know Charls and Zoe would never, ever consider hooking up with a guy I wanted todate.

They’re not likethat.

Marshallisn’t likethat.

“I think I’m an idiot,” Iannounce.

“Agreed.” This from Zoe. “Question is, what are you going to do aboutit?”

“Go after what Iwant.”

It’s time to woo MarshallHunt.

6

Hunt

There’ssomething to be said about living in the same city where you were conceived, born, andraised.

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