Page 21 of Taking Chances

“No, there’s no need to rent it. I bought one.”

“Hmm, I thought you said you didn’t need one.” She swats my shoulder playfully. “Guess someone ate his own words.”

“Well, I wasn’t aware I was going to drive someone terrified of bikes to a wedding when I said it.” I’m making a joke, but her eyes widen in horror.

“Please don’t tell me you bought a freakingcarfor this.”

“I didn’t?” I say, popping a grape into my mouth.

“Nooo,” she groans. “I was feeling bad enough you were doing this in the first place. Now I owe you a car?” Her head drops to her chest.

“You don’t owe me a thing.” I lift her chin up with a finger. “Look, I’m a grown ass man. I think I can decide what to spend my money on. And I decided to buy myself a car. Don’t overthink it.”

She nods, relaxing into the finger that’s holding her head up, and I quickly retrieve it.

“So, tell me everything about yourself,” I say, and she laughs in response. Her laughter fills the cozy apartment, wrapping itself around me.

“I think you know pretty much everything already. Prone to embarrassing myself, horrible at love, and my family is. . . uncompromising.” She lists the things with her fingers.

“Have you talked to them?”

“Nope. My sister texted me after the first Sunday brunch I missed but it was to scold me about the fact I hadn’t let her know I wasn’t coming.” Her eyes turn to mine with a playful glint. “I told her I meant what I said during the Christmas dinner.”

I shoot her a questioning look.

“I know it seems silly to you, but I’m not used to telling her no.”

“Good for you, then.” I clink my bottle to her glass, and she smiles before taking another big sip.

“The other day at the bar, you said it was your sister and father. Is your mom any better?”

“My mom passed away when I was little.”Shit.“Ever since, it’s been my dad, sister, and I. She was always what I strove to be like. Perfect grades, perfect look, perfect personality.” Another sip. “I just never lived up to that.”

“What do you mean?” I can’t imagine a universe where this girl is anything other than perfect. Her angelic features go hand in hand with her vibrant personality. She’s the embodiment ofsweet.

“I’m not skinny enough, for one. My job is a joke.” My brows raise so she explains. “A non-profit is hardly a career, Annie.” She gives an impression of what I guess is her dad. “Ugh, I hate being called Annie. I read romance books instead of boring non-fiction. Oh, I’m also single because I can’t get a man to commit to me, and my hair is too red.” She downs the rest of her glass.

“Your hair is too red?”

“My sister spent the better part of three years trying to get me to dye my hair a lighter, strawberry blonde, which proper men find more attractive, according to her.” She rolls her eyes.

Her sister must be goddamn crazy. Her copper hair is more than attractive.

Though, I guess I’m not the proper man her sister was talking about.

“So, tell me about your family?”

I snort at her words. “Going to need more alcohol for that,” I joke, but she races to where I guess the kitchen is.

“Would this work?” She holds up a bottle of Macallan.

“That’s some top-shelf stuff. Where’d you get it?”

“It was Bryce’s precious possession. But I hid it before I went drinking that night when he broke up with me.” She breaks into a fit of giggles, and I can’t help but laugh along.

“Let’s try it out, then.”

“Oh, I don’t really drink whiskey.”

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