Page 41 of Bad Luck Club

He shrugged a little. “I’ve been sleeping on the couch.”

She picked up the menu, the egg on the cover seeming to wink at her. “Gertie deserves better. And, just so you know, I came here to break up with you. Not because you were holding back, but because Idowant more—just not with you.” She threw the menu at his face. “Enjoy your breakfast. Eggs are disgusting.”

“Hey, now,” the server called. “We also have Eggsplosion Waffles.” She’d only retreated a couple of booths away, apparently, and had been watching the whole exchange

Blue turned and left, catching a glimpse of the runner, which was decorated with a design of woven bacon strips, as she made her way out. A man toward the front of the restaurant whooped, and his buddy, sitting next to him, called out, “Any chance I can get your number?”

The people pleaser in her told her she should politely tell him no, but rage still ran through her, and she had a pretty good idea this was the guy who’d played the Carrie Underwood song.

“Hell, no,” she said, “that clear enough for you?” and slammed her way out of the restaurant.

The rage was still with her, growing with every heartbeat, it seemed, until she reached her car. She slid in behind the wheel, trying to focus her breathing like she did in yoga, but instead she burst into tears.

When the sobs had subsided, she wiped her face and took several deep breaths in and out, letting go of the shock and horror. The guilt. And she called Bear and told him everything.

Well, everything about Dan.

“Someone actuallymarriedthat boy?” Bear asked, genuine surprise in his tone.

“Of course that’s what you’d take away from this. I’m messed up, Bear. Super messed up. I’m the last person who should be helping anyone.”

“You’re no more messed up than you were yesterday,” he said firmly. “Your heart wasn’t in it. Your heart hadn’t even dipped its toes into the water.”

No, her heart was more interested in dipping its toes elsewhere. But instead of saying so, she settled for, “That’s a mixed metaphor.”

“You know what I mean. I’m shocked Dan thought he could get someone else to marry him, let alone you. Lightning usually doesn’t strike twice.”

“Can I come over to talk before the meeting?”

He paused, his hesitation surprising her. “Aren’t we talking now?”

“You know what I mean,” she said, repeating his words back to him.

“Cal and I are tied up until the meeting, Blueberry. No can do.”

That was a bit strange. Then again, they were working on a house renovation together, flipping an old property that had about a thousand problems, and she knew the contractors who were helping them sometimes had strange, unpredictable schedules. But still. On a Sunday?

She didn’t want to make a nuisance of herself, though, so she just said, “Okay. I’ll see you at three.”

“See you then. Oh, and Blue? You might want to drive over with your friend instead of meeting him here. You know the house is a bit hard to find the first time.”

That was true, but she sensed there was more to it. What did Bear have up his sleeve?

“I’ll suggest it, but I’m not sure he’ll go for it.”

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure he’d come at all.

She could still see the look in his eyes when she’d casually dropped the “boyfriend” bomb last night.

Was she going to tell him about Dan?

She had to, didn’t she?

“Something tells me he will,” Bear said. “See you soon.”

* * *

Blue glanced at Lee as she drove toward the Cluster. He looked a little like Buford, her rabbit, when she dropped something. Or when her cell phone rang. Or…actually Buford looked like that a lot, always staring at her with perpetually startled eyes.

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