Page 3 of Say You Remember Me
“No!” I squealed, my voice louder than intended. Glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, I lowered my voice to a whisper. “It’s just… I guess I’ve been complaining to her a little too much about how I never really got to date around in college and missed out on all the fun parts of being in my twenties.”
“Since you were with the same guy for eight years.”
“Yeah…” I took my phone back and turned it over, placing it face down on the table.
“And since you’re only twenty-six and haven’t actually tried dating again, even though you’ve been single for a year, Lexi is trying to knock some sense back into you,” Sloan said, clearly thinking my little pity parties were ridiculous too.
Which, yeah, I got. Jaxon and I had called it quits a year ago, but instead of going out and having fun with guys on the nights Grant was with his dad, I’d opted to stay home. It was easier not to get my heart broken again if I didn’t offer it to anyone in the first place.
“Anyway…” I sighed. “I guess Lexi is tired of me just complaining and not actually doing anything about it. So when I was leaving to come out with you, she told me that I wasn’t allowed to see Grant again unless Ikissed a hottietonight.”
“She’s holding your son hostage?” Sloan laughed, clearly more amused by my sister’s antics than I was. “And the ransom is you kissing a stranger at the club tonight?”
“That’s what she said.” I smiled despite myself. “But, I mean, it’s not like she’ll know if I do it or not.”
“Oh, she’ll know,” Sloan said, a sneaky grin lifting her lips. “Because I’m going to be your witness.”
“So you’ll vouch that I kissed some dude so Grant can see his mom again?”
“Not exactly.”
“Huh?” I asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m here to hold you to it. And if you don’t follow through, I’ll call Lexi and tell her that she can’t let you inside her house again until I’ve seen you in the arms of a sexy man tonight.”
“You’d keep an innocent little boy from his mother?” I gasped, not believing what I was hearing. Had my sister and aunt somehow teamed up on this?
“I’ve been trying to get you to bring back your boy-crazy side for months. So yeah, if I have to help Lexi and Noah raise your sweet little boy while you go out and sow your wild oats, I’ll do it. It’s for your own good.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I rolled my eyes. “You guys can’t kidnap Grant. I know where both of you live.”
“You’d be surprised at the connections I have,” Sloan said. “One of my former students disappeared from his fiancée for a whole year without anyone having any idea where he went. I’m sure he’d hook me up.”
“Sounds like agreatperson to be connected to,” I said wryly.
“He’s a really great guy, actually. In fact, he owns this club.”
“So does that mean he came back?” I asked, suddenly curious. “And did his fiancée forgive him?”
“They’re getting married next weekend, so I’d say things turned out okay.”
“Well, good guy or not, it sounds like this mysterious club owner is too busy with wedding plans to help you kidnap my son.”
“Maybe.” Sloan shrugged. “But regardless, you deserve to have some fun tonight. Plus, I saw the way all the guys were checking you out when we walked in. I bet there are more than a few who’d jump at the chance to help you fulfill your goal for the night.”
“You meanLexi’sgoal?” I corrected her with a raised eyebrow. I was definitely not the one who had come up with this crazy idea to walk up to a complete stranger and kiss him.
Sure, it was probably something I would have done in another life, before I suddenly had to grow up when I became a teenage mom. I’d definitely been a huge flirt back then, sneaking into college parties with my friends before we’d even gotten our driver’s licenses.
But now? I doubted I even remembered how to flirt with a man.
“What about that guy over there?” Sloan asked, pointing to a blond guy in a navy-blue polo shirt who had just walked up to the bar. “He’s cute.”
I studied the guy’s profile, imagining myself walking up to him and striking up a conversation. But when he turned to speak to the bartender and I caught a better glimpse of his face, I shook my head. “No, I don’t think I could kiss a blond anytime soon.”
“Too similar to Jaxon?” Sloan guessed.
“Yeah…definitely don’t need to find someone who resembles my ex.”
