Page 83 of Third Time Lucky

‘Uh— no,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘I got engaged in that dress.’

This is that little piece that sticks with me – the memories. I can’t shake them because they’re everywhere. How do I get rid of them?

‘Ick! Burn it with fire,’ Madi exclaims, causing Mitzi to toss it onto the floor like hot, contaminated, toxic garbage. ‘Ooooh! You know what we should do? Have a dress burning of the wedding kind. I know you still have it, and the thing is cursed. It’s only bringing you bad luck with the memories that hit you every time you see it hanging in your crowded closet.’

Mitzi tilts her head, giving me an interested look.

‘You want to burn a ten-thousand-dollar wedding dress?’ I ask Madi in shock.

‘Do you remember when you asked about regifting engagement rings?’ Mitzi responds.

I nod.

‘The same rules apply to wedding dresses. Madison’s right: it may well be cursed. How does one release a curse? Back in my day, it was with fire.’

‘Mitzi?’ I ask curiously. ‘You’ve burned some things in your lifetime, haven’t you?’

She chuckles. ‘Everything but buildings, dear.’

‘I guess we’ll be having a boy burning bonfire then,’ I say.

‘This is going to be fun!’ Madi says. ‘And Mitzi, you should write a novel about your life.’

‘I prefer to keep some things a mystery,’ she replies, meandering into my closet and dragging out the wedding dress I’ve been avoiding since I put it there. She drops it onto the floor, along with the engagement dress. ‘When you do it, I’ll ensure my lawn guy is on standby with a hose in case things get too wild. And please, girls, do not post any evidence on social media. I wouldn’t want to upset Pnina. Is there anything else we need to take care of, darling?’ She glances back at my closet as she asks.

I nod slowly and walk inside, dragging out the suitcase I never bothered to unpack from my trip to Vegas. In my arms, I also carry a box filled with trinkets and souvenirs from Brandon, every gift he had ever given me except for the jewelry – which I will pawn just because.

‘Might as well toss in these too…’ I say, stacking things on the growing pile.

Mitzi furrows her brows. ‘Perhaps I should inquire about a burn permit from the city, just in case.’

The only thing left to do is pick a date for the bonfire. Hopefully, fire can kill what’s left of this demon.

25

ASHER

I’m sitting at a newly assembled Ikea desk in the restaurant’s office. My laptop is open before me, and I’ve been browsing endless options for a date idea in Portland for what seems like an eternity. Why do I feel like I have no idea how to plan a date?

‘I thought we were stocking shit today. What’re you doing in here?’ Aaron asks, stopping in the doorway and looking in curiously. ‘Studying for a test?’

‘I asked Lucy on a date – without you,’ I admit, shaking my head in exasperation. ‘And now I’ve not got a clue what to do.’

‘Do her,’ he says like a creep, nodding his head repeatedly.

‘I’m looking for romantic, not offensive.’

‘Oh, well then, duh, cook for her then do her.’

I shake my head. ‘Cooking’s no longer a novelty, considering I do it for her daily. I need something bigger.’

‘Bigger, huh? I guess that means sex really is out of the question.’

I roll my eyes. ‘You do realize that sex is only one aspect of a relationship, right? It’s not the main focus.’

He stares blankly as if I’m speaking in a foreign tongue.

‘If you say so, boss,’ he finally says with a chuckle, leaning against the door frame.

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