Page 7 of Born to Make You Smile

“How old is he?”

She crossed her long, tanned legs. “Same as Will. Twenty-eight.”

I frowned. A guy that age definitely had a lot of experience and expectations.

“Look. I know you’re super particular about men. But just meet him. You never know! Sparks could fly.”

Dorina, as always, the hopeless romantic.

“We’ll see,” I said, finishing the last of my vodka soda. “But I am going to need another drink before we go.”

***

The club’s dance floor was bursting with people, and I held Dorina’s hand as we maneuvered through the thick crowd. The rhythmic thumping of dance beats, beaming purple lasers, and the fetid smog of sweat and cheap perfume invaded my senses. This was the kind of scene I’d loved and craved years ago. Now, all I wanted was to go back to Dorina and Vanessa’s quiet condo and chill.

“I see him,” exclaimed Dorina as she spotted Will standing by the bar. She tapped my arm. “And Grace, there’s Ethan.”

As we approached the two men, my nerves fluttered. Half eager, half hesitation. Then Ethan turned around to face me.

He was handsome, wearing a black dress shirt that hugged and emphasized his taut, fit body. He also happened to be very tall, well above six feet. He looked like a model straight out of the pages ofGQmagazine. Like the type of man with so many notches on his bed that he’d worn down the frame. And then there was me. The complete opposite.

Not a single notch, scratch, or scrape to be found on my bed.

With a smile, Dorina introduced us. “Grace, this is Ethan. Ethan, Grace.”

Her expression was hopeful.

“Grace. It’s so nice to meet you.” Ethan’s voice had a silk rasp that suited his physique. He had dark hair and eyes and a chiseled jawline peppered with a trace amount of stubble.

He generously offered to buy me a drink, then we stepped off to the side where it was quieter so we could chat. He asked me about what I did for a living. I told him how much I loved being a dental assistant. He talked about working at his uncle’s company as a financial analyst. He was friendly, charming, and definitely intelligent. Almost too good to be true.

As we spoke, I noticed him frequently glance at his phone, like he had somewhere else to be. The first time, I let it slide, but by the third time, I began to grow irritated.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to remain polite.

“Actually,” he said with a sigh. “I gotta go. I have a twelve-week-old puppy at home, and I don’t want to leave him too long. He’s not used to being alone longer than a few hours.”

My shoulders sank as guilt consumed me. I’d misinterpreted the situation and made assumptions.

“What kind of puppy?” I asked, my voice soft.

“He’s a chocolate lab.” Ethan pulled up a photo on his phone.

He was the cutest, most scrumptious brown pup I’d ever seen.

Be still my heart.

“His name’s Aslan.”

“Aslan?” I repeated, thinking I’d misheard him. “As inThe Chronicles of Narnia?”

I thought about the box set on my bookshelf. The special collection had been passed down to me from my mother.

“Yup. My favorite book series growing up.”

A bout of surprise came over me, and my cheeks warmed. “Mine too.”

“No way.” He smiled widely, showing off his pristine set of white teeth, then tilted his head. “Listen, Grace. Before I go, do you think I can get your number? I’d really like to see you again.”

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