Page 145 of Mr. Flirt

Well, apparently, that was a common thread that bound us all, or we wouldn’t be sitting here about to dredge up an old teenage pact.

Samantha and I traded a worried glance when the bartender kneeled in front of Winter and slid her a folded napkin.

Here we go again.

She opened it up, blushed some more, and grinned before he stood back up and took the rest of our orders. The moment he left, she leaned in and sighed.

“He’s cute.” She sighed again, and Arie patted her back.

“And it looks like you might get to do something about it,” Arie teased, and Winter rolled her eyes, knowing full well she was going to dial that number sometime soon.

“Anyway, before we were so rudely interrupted,” Samantha picked up where Winter had left off.

Winter had a habit of being easily distracted, but I never got distracted. I was just never interested.

“I say we look back into history,our history, and figure out what in the world we’re doing wrong. Maybe that pact from all those years ago jinxed us.” Samantha reached for her purse.

The mere mention of the pact made me cringe.

“It’s pointless,” I assured her. “I don’t even remember what I wrote. I didn’t even remember we had a pact until you brought it up.”

And I didn’t. Kind of. Well, I remembered it, but I didn’t build my entire failed-dating career due to those tiny vows. Only part of my dating career could be attributed to those, and I would never admit it to my best friends.

“Well, I remember my part of the pact clearly.” Samantha cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink that the bartender dropped off. “Too clearly, and I think that I need to finally acknowledge that I might have been wrong.”

I gasped. “Samantha Beau wrong? That’s ridiculous.” I giggled and looked lovingly at her.

Samantha had the sweetest heart, and I cursed the men who trampled it. Repeatedly.

Again.

And again.

“You’re saying your sixteen-year-old self might have been wrong about lifelong love and relationships?” Arie laughed. “Can’t imagine that.”

“Don’t be a know-it-all,” Winter joked, and Arie laughed some more. “And for your information, weweresmart enough to know that we’d need to revisit things by now if relationships hadn’t worked out for us, so here we are.”

“And you’re giving me a week? My thirtieth is so close, I can taste it.” I glared at her.

“I’m just glad I didn’t participate in your hocus-pocus of a pact.” Arie beamed, sitting proudly with a wine glass in hand.

“Because not participating in the pact hasclearlyhelped your love life,” I said sarcastically.

“Clearly.” She grinned, scowled playfully, and let out a sigh. “I’m divorced. Yes. But I’m sure that Mr. Right is just around the corner.”

“The only thing I saw around the corner was an alley full of homeless people and a bold assortment of brightly colored tents.” I grimaced. “So sad. Although you do like camping.”

Arie scowled. “I’m not into finding an urban camper as my Mr. Right, but thanks.”

Winter shook her head. “No. That’s exactly what I’m saying. What if we’re wrong? What if we’ve had dating and men wrong this entire time? We’re not getting any younger, ladies. What if Mr. Right doesn’t exist?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I’m happy with my life, and I don’t need a man to make me complete.”

“Close your eyes,” Winter began, “and imagine waking up in the morning, rolling over, smelling coffee wafting through the air, and opening your eyes to see Mr. Wrong staring right back at you.”

I shuddered, blinking my eyes open. “Sounds like a nightmare.”

Winter laughed. “Yeah. It came out wrong.” She glanced at Samantha. “You try.”

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