Page 1 of My Lucky Charm

Chapter One

Eloise

I’ve never kissed a stranger in my life.

Not in high school. Not in college. And certainly not as an adult. I may be a lot more outgoing than either of my sisters, but I have limits. A moral code. An internal compass that keeps me from going a tick too far.

Tonight, that compass broke.

I’m out at Sully’s with my friend Meredith partly because she’s heading back to her fancy life in New York City tomorrow, but mostly because I didn’t want to spend New Year’s Eve alone in my apartment. I like going out. I like being with people. No way I was going to ring in a whole new year by myself.

Some would say that being alone on New Year’s Eve isn’t the end of the world.

Those people probably have boyfriends.

Or a cat.

But it felt like the end of the world to me. I’m not the kind of person who dwells on what’s wrong in my life. I have big feelings, but the only one I focus on is happiness.

So, when Meredith called, I answered. And now, here I am. At a bar, doing my very best to play my usual role of “life of the party.” Nobody wants to hang out with a Debbie Downer, after all.

When I arrived, I noticed there were a lot of people at the bar who weren’t paired up. A group of women laughing loudly with the bartender. A creepy guy sitting outside the women’s restroom. A drunk woman yelling at people to “move so I c’n make this, I can do this, juss watch” near the pool table.

Her stick missed the ball completely, and the small group around her erupted in hoots and hollers.

And then there’s the mysterious, brooding, very attractive man sitting at the bar watching a hockey game who has been nursing the same drink for the last hour.

Oh. And me.

My cheeks hurt from over smiling. But this is the best way I know to get over disappointment. Yes, I just had to watch my most recent relationship go up in flames, and yes, I also got fired from the first job I’ve ever actually liked.

But there are better days ahead. Even if I’m currently not wanted romantically or professionally.

Like I said, I don’t like to dwell.

Besides, Meredith is only here for a few more days. And my best friend Dex showed up with his new girlfriend. In fact, all my friends showed up with their significant others.

And they needed a designated driver.

Enter me. Eloise Hart. Eternally volun-told.

Single but not ready to mingle.

“You look miserable.” Meredith has pulled herself away from her boyfriend, Seth, and is now giving me a pitying look.

“What? No, I’m not,” I say, wondering when I allowed my smile to fade. I paste it back on. “I’m fine.”

“Look, El, that guy was a jerk,” she says with a pursed look.

I nod. I know it. I think I always knew it. But Jay was par for the course for me.

If there are nice guys out there, they certainly aren’t crossing my path. And if they are crossing my path, I’m certainly not noticing them.

Because my type, apparently, is first-class jackwagon.

Jay absolutely fits my type. So did Brandon. And Eric. And Kyle.

First. Class. Jerks.

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