Page 5 of One Timer With A Wingman

It’s weird he’s saying sorry, of all people, because I always get the vibe there is something going on between him and Ruby, but it’s not like I have any facts to back it up.

We make it home in time to hear the headboard banging against the wall. Yup, Finn and Charlie are still going at it. Damn, those two have it bad for each other. I want to find someone who really catches my attention but that hasn’t happened, so I stick with the hookups. My parents are so deeply in love with each other that it seems impossible to find what they have.

I head to my room and grab a towel. I go to take a shower and think of Briar with her wavy blond hair and tight little body. I can’t explain why she intrigues me, but she does. Hayden wouldn’t be happy if I pursued her, but my buddy is graduating this year—and until a girl really catches my attention—well, it would seem like a waste not to pursue her and see where it leads. I leave the shower and head to my room. I’ll need to check in with Cade and make sure he’s okay. He isn’t home yet. I’m hoping he’s still with Annie. I put on a pair of boxers and get into bed. This is the first year I’m not going to spend Christmas with my family. Dad is taking Mom on a crazy trip around the world since she was diagnosed with ALS recently. It’s a degenerative chronic medical condition. We don’t know how much time she has, but Dad wants to make every moment with her count. Mom wants to see me settled and happy. I wish I could give her that wish, but it’s easier said than done.

CHAPTERTWO

Briar

Two days before Christmas

“I’ve decidedto close down Black Jack’s for the week,” my boss, Jace, says. All the workers are hanging out at a table since we haven’t had a patron come in for at least three hours. “I just can’t justify the expense of staying open with traffic being so slow.”

“Damn, I was banking on the hours,” my friend and fellow co-worker Taylor says.

“I’m sorry, everyone. I’ll be giving each of you a one hundred dollar bonus for being such dedicated employees. I hope to see you all back in the new year. Enjoy the break.”

Jace walks away. We all look at each other until Levi breaks the silence. He is a server too and we share a lot of shifts. “Let’s find some last-minute deal and get out of here.”

“You mean like for a few days?” another server named Lennon asks.

Levi nods. “Yeah, there’s last-minute deals for super cheap.”

“That’s a good plan,” Aaron confirms. He doesn’t work here. He stayed in town over break and is hanging out with Levi.

“You think it’s a good idea for all of us to go away?” I ask.

There are twelve of us sitting around this table. Most of us are servers. Taylor is a hostess and Nolan and Hawk work in the kitchen.

“Do you mean like a ski trip because I don’t have skis,” Sofia, who is also a server, chimes in.

“Definitely not skiing,” Levi states. “I’m thinking more along the lines of a beach vacation.”

“Dude, I can’t afford something like that.” Hawk winces, shaking his head.

Taylor is searching on her phone. I see because she is sitting next to me. She is on some last-minute deals website.

“Be careful, I heard there were scams going around,” I warn after seeing it on the news.

“What kind of scams could there be?” Jack laughs.

“The kind where someone sells you an all-inclusive trip to an island that doesn’t exist,” I deadpan.

“Is Punta Cana a real place?” Taylor asks, lifting her cell. The pic on her phone is a gorgeous hotel with a huge, oversized swimming pool and turquoise ocean water.

I haven’t heard of it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

“Fuck yes, that’s in the Dominican Republic,” Levi cheers, smacking his hand on the table with excitement. “How much?”

“Four hundred and fifty bucks,” Taylor says with a victorious tone.

“You’re lying,” Levi accuses.

“It sounds too good to be true. With the one hundred dollar bonus Jace is giving us, it would be like three hundred and fifty bucks,” Taylor calculates excitedly.

“Too good to be true,” I confirm.

“Briar, stop being a party pooper,” Lynsey chides. “A beach vacation sounds like a dream.”

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