Page 61 of Mr. Flirt

The world where little Lucys made their moms forget what a crappy sperm donor did to them. Or how magical playing Jingle Berry Balls on my phone could be after a grueling day in court while I’m curled up on my couch with a glass of wine and a mammoth bowl of potato chips.

Danni raised her finger. “But I have noticed that in recent weeks, you’ve softened slightly.”

I perked up and brought my gaze back to hers.

She smirked at me. “Any particular reason?”

“I have a confession.”

“Lay it on me. Is it that guy?”

“You mean the one I shouldn’t still be seeing but can’t seem to stay away from?”

“Yeah. Him. You know, you’ve never told me his name.”

My heart started pounding erratically, and I clenched my fists as nausea rolled through me. Why did I get so weird when I had to face facts?

And the facts, in this case, were that I really liked a man I should never have let myself get to know.

He, for some crazy reason, made me feel a little less bitter and angry about the unfair hand so many people faced when it came to love.

I bit my bottom lip a little too hard and then sucked on it to make sure it wasn’t bleeding and that I was still alive because I suddenly felt numb and confused and...

“Remember when that guy at that matchmaking event made up a name and went there on a bet pretending to be someone else?”

She frowned and patted little Lucy’s back.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Well, my sister’s birthday party was at a bar where he happened to be hanging out.”

“The fates have aligned.” Danni smiled. “That’s really weird. Seattle’s not exactly a small city.”

“He lives across the street from the bar in one of those swanky condos.”

“You’ve been to his place?”

I clenched my eyes shut and nodded. “I’ve met his sister and best friend too.”

“What? How’ve you been keeping this all from me?”

I stared at Danni and grinned. “I didn’t think anything would come of it, and you’ve got so much going on.”

“Never too much for this kind of development.” She eyed me suspiciously. “Are you falling for him?”

“No. It’s crazier than that.”

She rolled her eyes with a nervous giggle. “Of course it is.”

“I asked him to help me learn the art of flirting and everything that comes with it.”

She sharpened her gaze on me. “What do you mean,everything that comes with it?”

I shifted nervously on the couch, unsure how Danni would take it. She always pointed out the truth, and the truth didn’t look good. He’d shown his true colors right off the bat.

“We, umm...”

Her eyes nearly tumbled out of her head. “You’ve slept together?”