Page 37 of You Found Me
“Sorry, I’m not feeling too neighborly at the moment—what with jerk ex-fiancés causing trouble and all.” I sigh, “Maybe I do need to go on a few dates and post about them so he can see. Let these meddlesome women do some good for me and set me up.”
“First, stop apologizing. Second, if you want to do that, you should. However, I’m sure there’s a better way to get him off your back without dating the less than charming lot of single men here.”
“It’d be easier if I didn’t actually have todatesomeone. Like if I could hire an unknown actor or come to some kind of mutual arrangement.” I don’t know what comes over me—maybe it’s the wine—but I hear myself say, “You should pretend to be my boyfriend. It would keep the old biddies off your back, as well as your mom. We’re decent enough friends, and we know enough about each other that I think we’d pull it off. No one would question it.”
It’s definitely the wine.
Spencer starts having a coughing fit making me realize I’ve lost my mind.
Before he even gets a chance to respond, I look at him with wild eyes and burst out laughing. “Oh my god, ignore me. I can’t believe I even said that.”
My laughter starts dying down, becoming more nervous sounding. I take a deep breath. “I’m tipsy and emotionally drained. Please, let’s just act like that never came out of my mouth.”
Feeling the need to distance myself from him, I go over to the mirror on the wall, swiping my fingers underneath my eyes to get rid of any mascara that ran down my cheeks. Composing myself, I tell him we should head back to the party. When I get to the kitchen, I immediately pour myself another glass of wine, gulping half of it right away.
Mia and Piper make their way over to me before Piper says, “Whose ass do we need to kick?”
A genuine laugh bubbles out. “It’s nothing. I’m just exhausted from this week. Is it time for cake yet? It looks delicious and is begging to be eaten.”
***
A loud noise jolts me awake, it takes me a second to recognize it’s coming from my phone.
Reaching over, I silence the irritating device while coming to the realization that I’ve got a wicked hangover and no idea of how I got home. I run through my messages. There are a bunch in my group chat with the girls and then one from Spencer.
Naturally I click on that one first.
Spencer
Hey. It's Spencer. Give me a call whenever you wake up. And take the medicine on your nightstand.
That’s when I see the very tempting bottle of water and Advil in front of me. My mind goes back to when I woke up the morning after my parents’ anniversary party feeling the same way. A wave of déjà vu hits me. This poor man is owed compensation for putting up with a very emotional drunk me, not once but twice.
Once I pop a couple pain relievers, I go through the rest of my texts, noting a message from Mia to meet her at Blossom Brews once her yoga class lets out. I drag myself to the showerand get as ready as my body will allow in this state, and I don’t bother getting dolled up, going with a pair of biker shorts and an oversized T-shirt this morning.
Thankfully it’s not a hair wash day, so I French braid my hair.
Less than an hour later, I’m in line ordering the biggest iced white chocolate mocha latte I can get my hands on, when a deep voice behind me says, “Could you add a large black coffee and a cinnamon roll to that order, please.”
I know that voice.
I’d hoped to not run into the owner of that velvety, low draw that enters my dreams unwillingly—or ever have to face him again for that matter. Realistically, I would’ve loved not seeing him until I had an idea of what else happened last night. I’m about to tell the teenage girl behind the register that my order is separate, but Spencer cuts in with a dazzling smile informing her that he’ll be covering both of our orders.
Of course, she goes along with what he says because anyone with eyes would find him and that dimple attractive. I, being unswayed by his charms, roll my eyes at his antics and head over to a corner table with my back to the rest of the shop.
Spencer brings over the number holder that I failed to grab and sits down across from me. I begrudgingly look up, meeting his eyes and notice a small smirk is spreading on his stupid, handsome face. “Thank you for buying my drink.”
“That’s what boyfriends are for, Shortstack.”
“You must have me confused with another one of your several other women, because I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“No?” he asks with a playful tilt of his head. “So, you don’t remember anything from last night after we went back out for cake, huh?”
I couldn’t be more embarrassed if I tried. Which is why I tell him a small lie, “I’m sorry, I don’t. But I’m meeting the girls here in a bit so they can fill me in.”
“No need to apologize. You kept me entertained.”
“Ugghhhh. I usually remember things when I’ve been drinking, but I don’t this time. So excuse me while I go run out into traffic.”
