Page 119 of Mr. Flirt

“So, you’re just going to punish yourself for the rest of time because she might have decided to give up on finding love.” Mike shook his head and took a drink.

I shrugged. “What’s it to you?”

“We want to see you happy. We want you to quit blaming yourself.” Mike shook his head and looked at Brendan, but he didn’t say much.

“What?” I asked Brendan. “You’re suddenly quiet.”

“I honestly wish this didn’t happen to you. It’s made me grow up a lot really quickly. It’s made me realize how ridiculous putting friends first is, and I’m just sorry this happened to you. I mean, I’d like to find that special person someday. I don’t want to wind up alone.” He took a swig of beer. “And seeing you like this freaks me out.”

“You don’t want it to be you.” I laughed. Brendan was always a bit nicer than Mike and a bit more thoughtful. He was a good guy. He’d always been lucky with the ladies but really unlucky with love, but I knew he’d wanted a big family. “Don’t worry. You didn’t jinx yourself by throwing some bad karma in my direction.”

Brendan’s brows quirked up slightly, and he shrugged. “We’ll see. I just want you to be happy again.”

“Show me a happy Lucy, and maybe I’ll be able to smile again. Until then, let me flounder by myself while I pity my choices in life. Simple as that. I ruined myself, and I ruined the girl I fell in love with.”

Brendan and Mike traded glances just as I saw Lucy bound down the sidewalk.

She looked stunning.

Incredible.

Dynamite.

My heart started beating fast, and I glanced at my buddies.

“Was this why you brought me here?” I asked, suddenly feeling like I could breathe again.

Brendan frowned and shook his head, following my finger. “Oh, Lucy is coming here?”

I looked at them. “What do you mean? You didn’t know she was coming?”

“I didn’t invite her,” Mike said, but Brendan had a funny look on his face.

The doors burst open and in walked Lucy. She stopped and scanned the bar. I stood up, but she didn’t seem to see me.

Instead, she beelined right to Cliff. He lit up the moment he saw her, and he stood to greet her.

All the blood drained from my face. My body felt limp. My arms refused to move. My legs wouldn’t budge. I just watched Lucy as she laughed and hugged Cliff.

The doctor.

And she slid into the booth where a drink was waiting for her.

Lucy’s infectious laugh filled the air, and my pulse didn’t soar. It slowed.

My world went into slow motion as my two buddies seemed elated that Lucy had already moved on.

“That was fast,” Mike said, smacking Brendan’s shoulder.

Brendan scowled at him before turning his attention to Lucy and Cliff.

It was as if I’d been put in a trance. I couldn’t rip my eyes off the booth where Lucy’s mannerisms seemed so freeing and her laughter tickled the air. Cliff looked like he’d won a million bucks, and he was right. He had.

I brought in a deep breath, but it felt shallow and as if I weren’t getting enough oxygen.

I wanted her to be happy.

That was all I wanted.

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