Page 4 of Happily Ever Laughter

And now I realize that the entire fate of my love life might be in Jenna’s hands. It’s clear to see that the two of them are discussing me.

I’ve always been a fairly good tipper, but I wish to hell I had given her one more important tip.

“Please, please say something nice about me – I’m already sure she’s the love of my life.”

CHAPTER THREE

~ Tanis ~

I hope that Felix doesn’t think I’m impossibly rude for taking off on him, obviously to ask the bartender about him, but I don’t give my number to just anyone. Far too many horror stories of women being sent dirty texts at all hours of the night, with and without attached photos of extremely unsexy and offensive photos of male appendages.

I want Felix to be one of the good guys. There was an energy about him that made me feel brand new things. But I have to at least do some homework first.

“Hey, Jenna.” I lean far across the bar. “You see that guy I was just talking to?”

“Yeah. That’s Felix. He and his roommates and some other friends come in here quite a bit.”

“Have you ever seen him here with a girlfriend?”

She shakes her head, sending blonde chunks swishing around her cheekbones. “Nope. Never.”

“Does he pick up women here a lot? Is he a player?”

She throws her head back and laughs. “Now that you mention it, no. He chats to everyone a fair amount. Definitely the outgoing talkative type. But this is his local hangout. It’s not a pick up bar to him.”

“Would you say he’s a good guy? A guy worthy of a total stranger’s phone number?”

That lipstick clad grin grows wide and she nods her head firmly. “Absolutely. He’s polite, well spoken, and seems to have his shit together.” She leans closer. “Plus, I’ve never seen him look at any woman the way he’s looking at you right now.”

Instinctively I glanced back over my shoulder to see Felix studying me carefully.

“Go for it,” she says. “I give him my official stamp of good guy approval. Go on a couple of dates. What the hell, right?”

“Thanks. And hey – what’s he drinking?”

She reaches for a fancy beer glass from the shelf behind her. “Belgian Trappist ale. Do you want one?”

“No, I’ll have another lemon drop, please. It was amazing. But the beer is for him.”

Jenna pours the drinks quickly, smiling from ear to ear. “That’s a baller move, buying him the first drink. Establish your power. Well played, sister.”

“Thanks.” I pay her, add a slightly extravagant tip, then bring the drinks back to my table.

I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but the whole thing feels like it’s been taken out of my hands. I was never very close to my parents, and then I moved away. Attempting to date in college didn’t work because I didn’t trust any guy enough to try for a real connection.

I’ve already bonded with Felix through laughter more than I can understand, which has given the element of hope a chance to jump up and start circling my mind. Maybe, just maybe, there might actually be someone cute on this planet that I click with.

As soon as he sees I have the right kind of beer in my hand, Felix jumps up to take it from me, with the most adorable smile I’ve ever seen.

“Thank you so much. Does this mean I’m worthy of your phone number?”

I sit back in my chair and take a sip of my cocktail. “It means that you are worthy of further conversation.”

His eyes absolutely blaze as he chuckles. If he is this cute and sexy while he’s pleased with a simple beverage, I can’t wait to see what expression he makes when…if…things go further.

“So what do you do, Tanis?”

Why on earth does my name sound so good rolling off his tongue?

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