Page 7 of Mr. Flirt

“Come on. Do you think if I had a wife, I’d be at the bar with you, talking about whatever the heck came to mind without a care in the world?”

Mike shrugged. “I’m here, and I’ve found the one. And might I add, once you find your person, life becomes easy.”

I spotted Brendan, my other best friend, making his way over with a drink. He gave a quick wave and arrived just in time to hear me explain some things to Mike.

“Yeah... well, first of all, you’re in your honeymoon phase. It’s all a trick. Sorcery.”

Mike rolled his eyes, and Brendan laughed. “Is he going on about it again?”

Mike laughed and nodded, but I continued.

“I bet you have a time you’re supposed to be home by and a lot of things you shouldn’t do tonight.”

Mike scratched his chin and looked perplexed. “Not really. I mean, apart from being a decent human being, I can’t think of much.”

“Oh, just a decent guy?” Brendan teased. “That doesn’t seem too hard.”

I shrugged and took a sip of beer. “You can’t tell me there aren’t some rules involved with your going out without her.”

Mike laughed. “Not really. Just common-sense stuff.”

Brendan nodded. “I have to agree with Shep on this one. Women tend to change after you walk down the aisle.”

Mike shook his head. “And you know this, how?”

“Purely observation.” Brendan's smile grew tenfold as he raised his drink to cheer me.

“Skylar is different,” Mike muttered.

“If you say so.” I didn’t buy it for a second. Never once had I been in a relationship and didn’t get bombarded with a million rules.

It would start simple, like I couldn’t meet a friend for dinner or I had to call when I left the office, but then it would evolve to not being allowed to swing by the store on the way home or change plans at the last minute to go see a ballgame with a buddy.

Which was precisely why I prided myself on just not bothering. It was all too complicated and messy.

But Mike.

Mike got fooled. He fell for a pretty woman with an amazing personality, but soon, the real Skylar would show her true colors, and I’d be there to pick up the pieces of my best bud’s heart.

Mike patted my shoulder as he took another sip of beer. I knew it because I’d lived it.

He looked me square in my eyes and grinned. “You know what’s weird about you?”

I smirked. “Enlighten me.”

“You’re the happiest guy I know—successful, kind, and funny. You’ve got the biggest heart I’ve ever experienced.”

I chuckled. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

Brendan glanced at Mike. “Sure sounds like it.”

Mike grinned wider. “I’m not done yet. You’re all that good rolled up into a great big, giant ball of tenderness until the topic turns to love. That’s when you turn into a real downer, a cynic, the Grinch on steroids.” He took another swig. “I have to confess. You’re not fun to be around when you start picking on love. Just because you haven’t found the one doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist.”

Ah, Lucy. The one who got away. The one who wanted to kill me.

Good times.

“Psh.” I shook my head and glanced around the packed bar with extravagant chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, fancy stone floors sprawling in every direction, and expensive booze pouring freely from the bartenders’ hands. “The place is filled with pretty women, and I guarantee you, not one of them is a perfect fit for Sheppy.”

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