Page 48 of Falling Backwards
Joy happily obliges while I glance around—and I unexpectedly lock eyes with Luke’s friend Paxton, who is grinning and approaching our table.
Aw, God.
“Well, well, well!”he says cheerfully.“What a good day I’m having!First a job promotion, then a winning scratch-off lottery ticket, and now coming across you lovely ladies!What’s the occasion?”
Half of my brain listens to Joy greeting him with equal cheer.The other half wonders if Luke is about to show up after all.
I have no time to decide whether I should ask before Paxton says, “Oh, hey, happy birthday!I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one celebrating something tonight.Once Luke gets here, I’ll buy all of us a round and we can do a toast!”
And here’s the twist, leap, and fall of my stomach.
I don’t want anything to dampen this evening.Is that too much to ask for?
My friends don’t seem to be concerned about that happening.Joy is telling Paxton how nice his offer is and Emma is sipping her margarita while she scans her eyes over him in a way I recognize.
Maybe it won’t be so bad,part of me holds out hope.
Another part counters,Or maybe Luke will see I’m wearing heels and intentionally make me trip so he can laugh at me again.
The latter sounds like something he’d do.
“Damn it,” I mutter.
“What?”Joy asks.
I catch up to the moment and see Paxton walking away.It’s just us girls again.
Sighing, I say, “This is a special day and we’re having a good time and I don’t want a certain someone to mess it up.”
“Refuse to let him,” Emma replies.
“Yes!”Joy agrees.
Mild dread aside, I have to smile.
“But,” Joy goes on, “I gotta say I don’t know if Luke evenwouldtry to ruin it.You told us how he acted when he had that headache at work, and now I kind of think there might be a regular guy hiding in there somewhere.”
I’m not sure how the mention of that situation makes me feel, just like I didn’t know how to feel when I was in the middle of it.I do, however, realizeInever mentioned the cell phone argument or our bar area friction to the girls, so they don’t know my last encounter with Luke didn’t see him being mature whatsoever.
Emma tells me, “We also know your history, so we’ve got your back no matter what.Just see what happens.”
Joy snickers.“Yeah, but hey, Em?Speaking of seeing what happens….”I watch her point at where Paxton is talking to a bartender.
Amusement overtakes me as well.“Ooooh, that’s right.I noticed how you were looking at him a minute ago.”
Emma’s lips curve into a half-smile that’s both cute and sly.“I’ve always found him good-looking.”
Joy nods.“I bet he thinks the same about you.”
“Maybe.”Her eyes shift between us.“Either of you calling dibs?”
I shake my head while Joy chirps, “Not a single one!”She leans over the table.“Oh my gosh.Later when he buys us those drinks, you should be like,‘Hey, wanna buy me some dinner this weekend too?’”
I laugh along with them.
Love these girls so much.
And they’re right: if I want to have fun tonight, that’s the bottom line.I don’t have to cross my fingers that Luke will act right, nor do I have to worry he won’t.
