Page 4 of My Lucky Charm

“Haven’t you ever kissed a stranger?”

I frown. “No! Have you?!”

She shrugs.

“Meredith!”

“What? It happens.”

I shake my head. “Not to me! Or because of me. I’m not in college anymore! I don’t need to revenge kiss some guy in a bar on New Year’s Eve. I really am good!”

Even though I’m the definition of a people person, kissing means something to me. It’s simple and sweet and intimate and—

“El.” She takes my hand, interrupting my train of thought. “Eloise. Don’t be dramatic. It’s just a kiss. And it’ll be enough to send a message to Creep Face and his side piece that you’re perfectly fine without him. Done. Over. Moved on.”

She’s starting to make a good point. I can’t believe I’m even considering it.

It’s just a kiss.

She looks at me. “When they do that countdown, do you really want to be the only person in this place who doesn’t have someone to kiss?”

No. I don’t. I really don’t. I didn’t before Jay walked in, but I really don’t now. Now I’m contemplating hiding in the bathroom until well after midnight. But I’m not a person who runs away. I want Jay to think I’m doing just fine without him.

Because I am. I’m good. Breakups happen. I’ve learned to move on. It doesn’t change the way I feel about love. I still believe it’s out there.

But logistically, this makes no sense. “What am I going to do, walk up to that extremely good-looking and very intimidating guy and ask him to take pity on me?”

She shrugs. “I mean, I wouldn’t take that approach. You don’t want to sound desperate.”

I draw in a breath, staring at the back of the guy’s head. He could be married for all I know. Or in a serious relationship. Or gay.

He could be a serial killer.

He could be a married, gay, serial killer in a serious relationship.

This is why you don’t kiss strangers in bars on New Year’s Eve. You just never know.

But then, Jay turns, and when he does, my eyes dart over, as if they’ve been trained to seek him out. When he spots me, his grip on Amber loosens. It’s not lost on me that if I hadn’t caught him, he’d still be dating both of us, which actually makes me feel bad for her. Does she even know the truth?

I bet he thinks he could win me back just by flashing that ridiculous trillion watt smile. I narrow my eyes, noting the way he’s still watching me. Then Amber whispers something in his ear and I lose his attention completely.

And it feels like getting dumped all over again. There’s a chink in my positivity armor.

“We’re less than ten minutes from midnight, El,” Meredith says. “Game on.” She nods toward the guy at the bar, whose hand is still wrapped around his glass. Now there’s a basket of what looks like mozzarella sticks sitting in front of him, and his eyes are still glued to the television hanging up in the corner, which is still playing a hockey game.

I take one last look at Jay, and then, without giving it a second thought, I walk over to the bar and sit down next to the guy. How hard can it be? I have a knack for winning people over.

The bartender makes his way over to me. “What can I get you?”

“Just a Coke,” I say. “I’m the DD.”

He nods, fills my glass, and slides it over to me. “On the house.”

Even this very small act of kindness stirs something inside me. I know it has nothing to do with this bartender or this free Coke and everything to do with the feelings I’ve refused to let myself feel since the Jay Mistake and the fact that he’s standing behind me with someone else.

Another chink.

But I’m not going there. I will not dwell. Not tonight.

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