Page 29 of The Luck of Finding You
I don’t mind a Cobb salad, truly; it makes a great lunch when I’m craving it. But right now? Right now I want a burger. A big juicy burger covered with toppings. I know for a fact that this place has the exact burger I want. Piled high with tomatoes and lettuce and their signature sauce. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. Our waitress is gone before I can correct the order.
I feel a small burst of rage start to burn inside of me. “Why did you order for me?”
Luke shrugs, oblivious to my anger. “I saw you were looking at the burgers, but a woman like you needs to keep her figure.”
I open and shut my mouth twice, staring at him. I cannot believe he just said that to me. The rage burns brighter. Does he really want a woman who looks like a trophy wife and then he leaves her once she has kids or gets a wrinkle?
Luke doesn’t stop me when I reach for the bread basket, probably because he’s launched into a monologue about how he just left his cushy job to come back here to start a nonprofit that helps underprivileged kids learn the skills they need to get jobs. “These kids just need a chance, you know?”
I catch the tail end of his spiel. He can’t be all bad if he works with kids, right? I feel my anger start to fade as he tells me about some of the kids he’s been working with. We’ll have to have a conversation about how it’s rude to order someone else’s food and to comment on their bodies.
“They really are great, and it’s not their fault they don’t have the resources as someone who, say, has two devoted parents at home. We’re really going to help these kids. Which is why I knew I had to be a part of it as soon as Peter told me his idea.”
My heart stops. It’s not that I’ve been obsessing over what Peter did to me, because I haven’t. I forgave him a long time ago. I just hoped I’d never have to think about him again.
Which I probably should have thought about before I asked his best friend out on a date.
“He’s actually going to come meet us tonight, if that’s okay. I thought a double date with him and his wife would be fun, like old times, you know? Oh, there they are!”
I don’t have time to process his words before I see Peter and a very pregnant woman walking toward us. They slide into the bench across from me and Luke.
“Hey, man!” Luke and Peter do some weird handshake-high-five thing, and I use the moment to send a text to Olivia.
SOS. BAD DATE.
I need you to come get me.
I send her my location and slip my phone back in my bag just as Peter looks at me.
This night could not get any worse.
I forgave him a long time ago for everything—not that he ever apologized; it was just something I had to let go of. But seeing him now brings back feelings I’d forgotten. Mostly, though, all I feel is rage.
“Tally, good to see you.” Peter smiles at me and I hold back a grimace. Why on earth would Luke think this was a good idea? Why on earth did I pick now of all times to start dating again, and with Luke? I think tonight I might need to re-evaluate all of my life choices.
I give Peter a small nod and stare at my glass of water on the table.
The woman beside him, his wife—wow, that’s a weird thought—claps. Sheclaps. “Oh, this is so much fun! I’ve known Luke for a long time, but it’s always so fun to meet Peter’s high school friends.”
I look at her for the first time. She can’t be more than twenty, if that.
“So, you were friends in high school? Did you always like Luke? He was so excited when he told us about his date with you.”
“Um.”
“Tally actually dated Peter in high school,” Luke announces to the table. He seems so proud to be the one to share this fact. “We all thought they were going to get married.”
Peter shifts uncomfortably. His wife grins at him. “What? No way. That’s so cool.”
My eyes widen and I grab the glass of water in front of me so I have an excuse not to reply.
“My high school boyfriend dumped me right after graduation. Then I met Peter the next week, and I knew it was all meant to be.”
“How long have you been married?” I ask.
“It’ll be a year in October.” She grins at him, and he, realizing she doesn’t hate him for being on a double date with his ex-girlfriend, smiles back. He leans forward and kisses her on the cheek.
Peter and his wife, who he introduces as Ava, order when the waitress comes back with our drinks. My phone vibrates on the bench next to me, distracting me from my one opportunity to change my order. The waitress is gone before I realize it. I pull my phone out of my purse. It’s a message from Olivia
