I was pretty sure Mindy thought I was mad at her for setting me up with Steven because I barely spoke to her all week. Adelle, fortunately, had been busy enough with some charity fundraiser that she accepted my 'details on Friday' text without pushing for more. I hadn't been upset with either one of them though. I'd just been extra busy .

Aside from my classes and grading papers, every waking moment had been spent trying to find the stranger. When I'd made that my goal, I'd known it wouldn't be easy, but I hadn't realized how difficult tracking down someone without a name, picture or personal information could be .

I'd called O'Mallys first thing to see if they remembered the fight. The bartender who'd worked Friday night hadn't been in, so I'd tried again the next day. He'd remembered the fight and me, but he swore he didn’t know the man who'd come to my rescue. After some coaxing, he admitted that Steven had told him to keep the drinks coming, but insisted he didn’t know I'd get so drunk so quickly .

After that dead end, I hadn't known where to go. I considered going back to the bar and waiting to see if the man showed up again, but since I'd talked to the bartender and he'd remembered me, I didn't want him realizing why I'd come back. I told him I wanted to thank my rescuer, but I was pretty sure he hadn't believed me. If I showed up there, it'd look desperate, which I didn't want .

Instead, I parked my car in the O'Mallys parking lot for two nights, grading my papers as I watched people coming and going. Both nights, I'd gone home empty-handed. I wasn't sure which was more depressing, how much my romantic life sucked or how the only guy I really wanted to talk to had vanished .

On Friday night, I was ready for some girl time and wine. I'd already decided that I'd tell everything, including my mystery man. I just hoped my friends could either talk some sense into me, help me, or give me a distraction. I couldn't keep running in circles like this .

“Wow, you look awful,” Adelle said as I took a seat to her right .

“Thanks,” I said sarcastically .

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Bree. The bags under your eyes have bags. You look worse than you did right after...” She let her voice trail off but I knew what she meant. Her gaze moved around, almost nervously. Then, suddenly, her face brightened. “Mindy! Perfect timing .”

“Why? What's going on?” Mindy asked as she sat on the other side of Adelle .

“Adelle here was just telling me that I look worse now than I did after Ronald dumped me at the alter.” I couldn't help but smile at the expression on Adelle's face. My friend was usually impossible to embarrass or make uncomfortable. I had to take advantage of it whenever possible .

Mindy gave me a small smile, one that told me she was still worried about me being mad at her. “I think you look fine .”

Adelle's eyes narrowed and she looked from me to Mindy and back again. “All right, something's up. No way would Mindy say you looked fine the way you're dressed unless she knew there was some sort of extenuating circumstance. Spill it .”

I took a deep breath and told my story. Mindy winced when I got to the part where Steven had tried to drag me out of the bar and I could see the guilt on her face. I didn't stop to reassure her though. Instead, I continued on with the part she hadn't yet heard, including the kiss this time. When I finished, Adelle and Mindy were both staring .

“Wait, so the reason you've barely talked to me all week is because you've been looking for your mystery guy?” Mindy asked. “I thought you were mad at me .”

I shook my head and patted her on the hand. “It's not your fault Steven turned out to be an ass. You had no way of knowing. He came across all charming at first .”

“Should've gone with my guy in the first place,” Adelle said with a smug smile. “But now you have to .”

“Yay, another blind date,” I sneered, clapping in mock celebration. “That worked out so great last time .”

“What are you going to do, then?” Mindy asked, changing the subject. “Hire some private investigator to track down a guy you kissed when you were drunk ?”

She had a point. It wasn't like I had many options when it came to finding my rescuer. And no matter how much I wanted to find him, there was no way I was telling some detective about what had happened. No kiss was that good .

My body disagreed with that statement, but I ignored it .

“I have to ask.” Adelle leaned forward. “What was it like? The kiss?” Her eyes were glowing with curiosity .

“It was a kiss,” I said shortly. “You know. Lips against lips .”

She grinned. “That good, huh ?”

I glared at her .

“Come on, Bree, details.” Adelle glanced at Mindy. “Was there tongue ?”

“You're an ass.” I threw a cherry tomato at her, laughing as it landed in her cleavage .

“Hey!”

I shrugged. “Shouldn't show it off .”

She plucked the tomato out from between her breasts and set it down on her empty plate. “Seriously, though, Bree. Let me fix you up on a date.” She threw a glance at Mindy. “I'll do better screening than she did .”

“Bitch.” Mindy stuck her tongue out at Adelle .

I laughed, my dark mood lightening as I let myself enjoy my friends .

“Please, Bree,” Adelle begged, her face all puppy dog cute .

“I think I'm swearing off dating for a while,” I said. I held up my hands. “No more men .”

“So women now?” Mindy grinned .

I searched for another tomato to throw as she laughed. “I just mean that I've had bad luck with men this past month and I'm not sure I want to try again .”

“It's not a commitment, Bree. I'm not asking you to marry the guy, just go on a date.” Adelle slid her card into the bill fold .

“You're not going to let this go, are you?” I asked .

“Nope.” She grinned. “You know me .”

Yeah, I did know her. That's what concerned me. I had visions of her showing up at my house at random hours with strangers she wanted me to meet .

“Besides, you need something to get your mind off of your mystery man,” she said. “You can't keep spending all your time looking for him .”

She had a point. “All right,” I agreed reluctantly. “One date.” Maybe that would be the distraction I'd need .