Page 77 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

Jacob closes the cracker box and walks back into the pantry to put it away. He emerges with a jar of peanut butter. He walks across the kitchen, opens the silverware drawer, and grabs out a spoon and scoops a heaping spoonful of peanut butter out, licking it like a lollipop.

His words are garbled with peanut butter. “I’m just talking about catching up with an old friend. You know—I’d be showing a single mom a good time. Nothing wrong with that. Unless you’re dating her or something. You’re not, are you?”

“Definitely not.”

Mom glances at me. I look away.

“Boys,” she says. “Let’s not squabble.”

“Of course, Mom. You’re right.” Jacob walks over and kisses her cheek. Then he lifts his thumb and swipes a dab of peanut butter off her face.

Mom walks over to me and pats my arm. “Lighten up, honey.”

I nod.

Then, very quietly, while Jacob is ducking into the pantry yet again, Mom says, “Olivia Pennington. I definitely approve.”

Chapter Nineteen

Olivia

In her heart, she held a secret wish,

a spell waiting to be broken by the one destined to find her.

~ Unknown

When I walkinto my apartment after dinner with Lynette and Cassidy, I cautiously flick the light switch. The overhead light turns on, and I smile. Sometimes, it’s the small things.

And … wait a minute. The door didn’t creak. I swing it back and forth on its hinges. No squeak, squeal, or creaky noise. They even fixed my door!

Somehow, Steve decided to overhaul my apartment. He called me back mid-morning to say they were sending an electrician up to fix the issue as soon as possible. And then he surprised me by saying a plumber would also be coming, not only to fix the trickle and the water temperature issue, but to change out the hardware to match the ones in apartment 2B. Why would he mention Logan’s apartment specifically?

I’d love to imagine Logan calling the building superintendent on my behalf. But I’m dipping my feet in concrete and keeping them firmly anchored in reality. Dreaming of Logan as being everything the women at the reunion painted him to be is a perilous path.

Though, he was the first person I ran to when my lights went out.

Of course he was.

He’s my neighbor.

The only neighbor I know.

I don’t know what I thought he was going to do for me.

I certainly didn’t expect to find him dancing with Rhett, and then to cook me some of the best pasta I’ve ever eaten, and then to offer me a place to stay for the night.

All those things add up to something dangerously wonderful.

I know one thing to be true. At every turn, Logan has ripped a rug out from under me—literally throughout my whole life. I didn’t cook up our history—the way he would always match my pace, and then just when the critical moment came, he’d pull out ahead to declare himself the winner.

I’ve suffered greatly at his hand.

And yet …

The way he danced so unabashedly with Rhett.

Not to mention the way he danced with me.

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