Page 147 of Mr. Flirt

The problem was that her parents fought like cats and dogs, but that was only when her father wasn’t busy staying with one of his many mistresses.

And the reason Winter hated a house on a beach was that she and her mother had walked into their beach vacation home with Winter’s father in bed, ass up, with another woman. Winter also saw, for the first time, that her father had a tattoo on his butt cheek that had forever scarred her.

No teenage girl should ever have to see her dad’s bare butt, especially up in the air where it doesn’t belong with someone who shouldn’t be clutching it, digging her bright red nails into his pale flesh.

The image was bored into my memory almost as harshly as Winter’s because I was the first friend she’d told all about it, sobbing into the phone.

Winter had stayed at my house for weeks after that. To say she was traumatized was putting it mildly, but even fourteen years later, I never knew what that tattoo was. It never seemed like the right time to ask, and now probably wasn’t the moment either, but I couldn’t resist.

“What was the tattoo of?” I shut my mouth the moment the words flew out, wishing I hadn’t asked. The second I saw a glint of humor in her gaze, I knew it was okay.

Winter shook her head, but she started laughing. “An anchor with red roses wrapped around it and a pair of skis propped next to the roses. Underneath, it read,Anchors Don’t Weigh Me Down.”

I hid a snicker.

“Wait—roses?” Samantha asked, giggling.

“Roses? I’m stuck on the anchor and skis.” Arie laughed.

“I tried to look away, but the image is burned into my memory.” She shuddered, laughing.

“I think the whole combo is priceless.” I laughed and let out a happy sigh. “Well, I always wondered why you didn’t like skiing or men who skied.”

She smiled and pursed her lips. “Well, now you know.”

“Was your dad in the navy?” Arie asked.

“Nope. Nothing really makes sense about the tattoo.” Winter scowled and shook her head. “And my mom still won’t tell me its meaning.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know,” I offered. “I mean, I’m not sure anyone could possibly figure that one out.”

“In college, he was ski patrol, but it still doesn’t explain the anchor and roses.” She rolled her eyes. “But he does like boats.”

“At least we can laugh about it now,” I offered, and Winter agreed.

“Crazy how things, when you’re young, can stay with a person.” Arie pursed her lips together, and I glanced at Samantha.

“So, what are you two saying? That Winter should go find a guy who cooks and has a house on the beach with a boat docked out front?” I asked, and Arie laughed.

“And has tattoos?” Arie chuckled.

“Just to clear things up, I have slept with men with tattoos. I just knew I’d never marry one.” Winter grinned and looked over at the bartender.

I held up my hands and laughed. “Believe me, we had no doubt there. Seriously, though. Why dig this up? What’s the point?”

“The point is that whether Winter knows it or not, she’s limiting herself. She’s cutting herself off from love, all because of a horrible incident back in high school.” Samantha cocked her head slightly. “And I think it’s about time we start letting ourselves go in the direction where love might actually be hidden.”

“You mean hidden in plain sight?” Arie asked, and I scowled.

“Don’t tell me you’re falling for it too?” I asked. “You didn’t even write anything down.”

Arie laughed and took a sip of her drink. “Because I’m the smart one.”

“Essentially, Winter has subconsciously vowed to date slackers for the rest of her life so she doesn’t wind up with someone successful because in her mind, she equates success with men who cheat, lie, and abandon people they should care about. But as we all know, that’s not true. Successful men aren’t all like that. There are plenty of slackers who do the same thing.” Samantha caught her breath. “I’m saying it’s high time Winter raises the bar. Maybe even date a lawyer, an entrepreneur, or actually anyone with a steady job, really.”

“Well, that’s just crazy talk.” I chuckled.

“It kind of is.” Winter smiled and glanced at the bartender. “Do you realize I’ve never been in a relationship where I didn’t have to support the other person?’

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