Page 2 of Recklessly Yours

“Maybe meet someone the old-fashioned way.”

Right. Old-fashioned way. Why didn’t I think of that? This time I couldn’t hold back the eye roll. Not all of us had the luxury of marrying our brother’s best friend like she did.

It was getting harder to deny it when my family members told me that I was picky.

If I said a guy was weird or not attentive or that I didn’t feel a connection, they were quick to tell me that I wasn’t giving it a fair shot.

But I could tell after one date whether there was potential. I wanted goose bumps, butterflies, and sparks. I sighed. Above all, I wanted to be seen. To be heard. With three older siblings and an over-the-top younger one, there were days when I felt somewhat invisible. Which was funny, since they never seemed to leave me alone.

“Anyway, so about tonight…” Ashley waved a hand, dismissing the conversation.

I’d said less than ten words since she showed up with the flowers. They hadn’t given me a chance to respond to any of their concerns, and now we were back to talking about her.

I guess I should be thankful she was done harping on me.

“Did you hear me?” Ashley asked.

I shook my head. If she was back to ranting about my choices when it came to my dating life, I was going to throw my stapler at her. Two years ago, she made her own dumb decisions and hidher relationship and feelings for her now husband. So she really had no room to lecture me.

She huffed out a breath. “I asked if you were still coming to our New Year’s Eve bash tonight.”

“We’ll be there,” Rhett chimed in.

The two of them discussed whether Rhett and his wife, Bella, were bringing the kids. What was the point of having this conversation in my office? Obviously, they weren’t really looking for my input.

I turned back to my computer and opened my email. At least I could be productive until I was summoned to speak again.

“So?”

I glanced up to find Ashley now staring at me pointedly. What had she asked? I’d already forgotten.

“Are you coming tonight?”

I ran my fingers along the silver hoop that hung from my ear. “Yeah, I’m planning to.”

Though I’d rather go home after work and curl up on the couch with a book. The idea of showing up to a couples’ party alone wasn’t the least bit appealing. Ashley had promised there would be plenty of other single people there, but I wasn’t sure I believed her. Most of my siblings and friends had either settled down and had a family or were well on their way there.

She placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “You better. Otherwise you’ll work until seven and then go home and be boring.”

I sighed. That was exactly what I wanted to do. But it was New Year’s Eve, and even that sounded pathetic to me.

“I will be there.” The promise almost hurt to make.

Finally, after the two of them rattled on about how I worked too much and I really needed to take more time off, they left my office. The conversation probably lasted less than twenty minutes, yet it left me mentally exhausted. More and more, Iwas understanding why my dad was so quiet. Sometimes it was easier to let everyone else say their piece. Dad only spoke up when he knew his words would penetrate through the chaos.

What I still had trouble with was not allowing their chaos to exhaust me.

I shot off a thank-you text to Kevin and got back to inputting invoices into QuickBooks.

An hour later, as I walked through the dining room of The Dock, my family’s restaurant, unease wormed its way through me. Kevin had responded saying he hadn’t sent flowers. I racked my brain for who else it might have been. He was the only guy I had even come close to hitting it off with recently.

“Hey, Hattie.”

At the sound of the deep voice, I spun. Michael, one of the bar’s regulars, was here with two other guys I recognized but couldn’t name. Was one Jason, maybe?

“Hey…”

“Ashley was telling us that you have a secret admirer.” Michael snickered.