Page 144 of Mr. Flirt

Chapter One

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I looked at my three best friends from childhood and shook my head. “We’re not bringing that up. Not today. Not ever.”

“Why?” Winter asked, wiggling her brows. “Think we’re onto something, Tessa?”

Winter’s brown hair was swept into a braid, and her blue eyes sparkled with an intensity that told me I was doomed. She still had a trace of clay along her wrist, which told me she’d been at her potter’s wheel all day and needed an outlet.

Nothing like being tricked into a dinner with friends, which was really a guise for another torture session to vent about relationships.

Or the lack thereof.

“I just think it’s silly stuff.” I waved my hand to dismiss the topic and summon the bartender. “I’m super happy. I have a super life. I have a super job. I have super friends, most of the time.” I eyed Winter suspiciously. “Things aresuper, and this other stuff is silly stuff.”

“Silly stuff?” Winter laughed. “Well, that’s justsuper.”

“Our love lives are notsilly. Pathetic, maybe.” Samantha giggled. “But not silly.”

“Okay, maybe I used the wrong word, but I think bringing something up from when we were sixteen is…” I chewed on my lip briefly and drew a breath. “Unnecessary.”

Samantha pointed at me, and I tapped my foot nervously, wondering when the bartender would show up. The bartender and I had locked eyes minutes ago, and he gave me the nod, and now I was stuck listening to something I didn’t want to face because he got sidetracked. I had a bad feeling about where this little reunion Winter had so suddenly organized was about to go.

“So, you’re saying bringing up dating stuff is not so super.” Samantha winked at me and nodded, giggling. She unclasped the top two buttons on her blouse and let her hair down.

We’d decided to meet at this dive bar in the heart of Seattle, close to where Samantha worked as an executive assistant. Since it was Wednesday, I’d hoped it meant we’d all be acting like civilized adults and going home at a decent time for work the next morning. Or at least, that was what I’d hoped until I arrived and saw the mischievous looks on Winter’s, Arie’s, and Samantha’s faces.

I glanced around the crowded Seattle bar and held in a groan. The exposed brick walls were splattered from decades of spilled drinks, and the smell of stale beer lingered in the air.

Seattle was a fun town, but it always left me exhausted and wanting to go back to Fireweed Island, where I now lived.

Fireweed was a short ferry ride from the city, but it felt worlds away, and I’d never been so grateful for being dumped and abandoned by a guy because it happened on a great island where I now taught high school and loved every second of it. I’d admit the place was short on single men, but I didn’t mind being a single woman. I had the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted to do it.

What was better than that?

“All I’m saying is that digging up some childhood game is unnecessary because we’re above all that.” I sat back in the booth, feeling like I’d finally gotten my point across. “We’ve all moved on.”

Besides, I really didn’t want to bring up what I’d written down so many years ago. It seemed so juvenile and perfectly thought out like a sixteen-year-old would write.

“But have we?” Samantha asked with a smirk.

“You don’t think it’s silly or unnecessary.” Winter sat back on the creaky wooden bench. “You’re scared. You’re scared that I’m right. Besides, we promised each other that we’d bring it up if we turned thirty and were single.” She tapped the table as the bartender wandered over.

His blue eyes caught mine, and I’d be the first to admit that he was good-looking, but he was a player. It was nearly stamped on his forehead.

When I glanced at Winter, I realized either she didn’t see the stamp, or she was destined to repeat fate time and again.

“What can I get started for you beautiful ladies?” He grinned, and I noticed the dimple in his left cheek.

Winter’s weakness.

Dimples.

This night wasn’t looking good for her, or maybe it was looking great for her.

She giggled and blushed. “I’d love a gin and tonic.”

“Bringing back the oldies.” He smiled, and she giggled some more.

Winter knew how to flirt. She knew how to bring a man to his knees. She knew how to leave them wanting more. And she also knew how to pick the wrong ones.

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