Page 16 of The Holiday Fail

LEVI

“You like men, and I’m a man. I know it’s not as simple as that, but I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can figure out what the issue is. Because while we might not have known each other long, I don’t think you’re the problem.”

Andy spoke like he firmly believed his statement. Austin and Jim nodded in agreement, but I still had a hard time believing it.

“I’m not too sure about that,” I muttered.

It was hard to think that the issue didn’t lie with me when I was the one being broken up with in every single relationship. And the fact they all used the same excuse too?

It said something when every single man I’d been with stated that I wasn’t the kind of person they wanted to settle down with.

“Come on. You just need someone to gas you up. And that’s where I’ll come in. I’ll be your wingman and dating advisor,” Andy stated. He took a sip of his beer, looking all self-assured, like this was a foolproof plan. I had my doubts.

“I think that’s a great idea! Coming from a big city likeNew York, I’m sure Andy can give better dating advice than we can,” Jim commented.

Jim and Austin had been best friends for years before they eventually got together, so I knew their situation wasn’t applicable to me.

I wasn’t looking to date my best friend, Felix, who’d moved to a different small town last year. I didn’t think Felix’s new boyfriend would appreciate that. From what Felix told me, Bruce was the possessive type and wouldn’t let anyone get in between the two of them.

Thinking about how all my friends were matching up, finding the loves of their lives, I smiled. I was ecstatic they found their happiness with people who loved them as they deserved to be loved. And then there was me…

“Okay, fine. I obviously need all the help I can get. How do we start?” I said. It wasn’t like I had anything to lose. Worse case, I’d get rejected again, and it wasn’t like I was short of those.

Andy studied me, his gaze hot as he looked me over. I wasn’t unused to being checked out. I knew I was easy on the eyes, and maybe that was a reason why the sting of rejection hurt even more when I’d always been told I was stereotypically attractive.

I didn’t want to only be a pretty face that warmed someone’s bed for the night. I was looking for the person who saw me,reallysaw me. Like the way Jim and Austin were for each other.

They didn’t have to hide themselves or pretend to be someone they weren’t. They accepted each other as they were. Full stop.

I wasn’t lying when I said they were fucking lucky to have each other.

“Well? What’s the verdict?” I asked after a minute underAndy’s scrutiny without him saying a word. Jim and Austin were watching us too.

Andy leaned back into the seat, all nonchalant and easy. How he made sitting look cool was beyond me.

“It’s definitely not your looks that’s deterring the men. You’re easy on the eyes, for sure,” he commented.

And now I was feeling all shy. I wasn’t expecting a compliment from him. “Thanks, you’re not too bad yourself,” I replied, and Andy gave me a knowing smirk. It wasn’t as smug as I’d expected after hearing my compliment, but more like he knew he was handsome and owned it.

That confidence, though. It was sexy as hell.

“So maybe it’s your approach that’s the issue? I’ll have to see you in action for myself,” he said and gestured toward the bar.

“Wait. You meannow?” I croaked.

Tonight was supposed to be time for me to unwind and hang out with my friends, not to have my first lesson on dating.

“No time like the present,” Andy replied coolly. Austin and Jim voiced their agreement.

“I…”

“Unless you don’t see anyone who catches your eye?” Andy added.

I looked around the room. It wasn’t as busy as a weekend night, but I preferred nights like these. It felt more intimate and less intimidating than a fast-paced night filled with horny people trying to get laid.

The only issue with it being a random Wednesday night was that besides the regulars, there weren’t many new faces, much less that fit my ideal type.

Andy must have seen the conflict in my expression, because he suddenly suggested, “How about this? I’ll go to the bar, and you pretend to pick me up?”

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