Nara

What a pleasant surprise my impromptu date with Brodie had turned out to be. Not at all stalkerish, even though he’d showed up at my office, unannounced, in his limo. And then there were those kisses. God, he was hot.

But still…

Before I turned the corner toward my place, I looked back over my shoulder.

To my surprise, there he was, crouched, in conversation with a homeless man camped out on the sidewalk. He had a hand on the man’s shoulder, and was nodding as they spoke. He reached for his wallet and pulled out some bills. Before leaving, he shook hands with him, leaving the man dazed by the uncommon act of kindness. I slipped around the corner before Brodie saw me.

I’ll be darned. I was dazed, too.

My heels were not the best things for walking on the old, uneven sidewalks of Brooklyn. If I’d thought about it earlier, I would have switched to the flats in my bag. Never too late. I kicked off my heels before I broke my neck. Ahhh, my feet cried thank you as I slipped them into shoes that were actually good for my feet.

So Brodie had turned out to be quite charming, not to mention philanthropic. Although I still didn’t know much about him—our drink had been a quick one. But it was generous of him to offer to help Mommy Knows. And I guess he really was committed to helping the homeless. His involvement wasn’t limited to showing up at fundraising auctions.

But his kiss…

My phone beeped. It was him texting me good night. I couldn’t help but smile as I hurried home before my overloaded computer bag permanently damaged my back. It wasn’t going to be easy to concentrate, that was for sure.

* * *

Next morning, I walked into Mommy Knows, and good old Mimi was already there. I headed back to my office that was not an office when Joi poked her head in.

“Hey girl,” she yelled, half scaring me out of my wits.

“Jesus, Joi. Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?”

She danced toward my desk. What the hell was she up to?

“I’ve got some gossip for you…” she sang.

Last thing I was in the mood for.

“I’m really not interested—”

She looked around gleefully. “Michael is fucking that temp receptionist we have up front.”

Ooof.

Had someone punched me in the gut? Because it sure felt like it. I didn’t even like Michael, and though we’d messed around, we were certainly not in any sort of relationship. And I’d rebuffed him only recently.

So then why did I feel like a chump?

I’d been in high school when I’d gone through my slut stage. Although it was more like a slut on steroids stage. When I’d emerged from it—bad reputation and all—I had a newfound commitment to academics and to getting the hell out of Dodge. But while in the middle of it, I jumped from guy to guy, desperate for approval and some sort of teenage connection. But the boys had always moved on to another girl by the next time I saw them in the school hallway.

And Mom wondered why I never wanted to come back home?

“Joi, I could give a shit who that guy sleeps with. It’s his business. As long as he keeps doing his job.”

“So touchy. I’ll come by later when you’re not in such a shitty mood.”

“Joi—” But she was gone.

My phone vibrated. Oh no.

“Hi, Simon,” I said with all the enthusiasm I could muster. They say you get more bees with honey…and it was too early for drama, anyway.

“Darling! I saw your story in Page Six,” he said with glee. “I’m sorry your dating life has become so ho-hum.”

“Simon, what do you want?”

“Oh, just to say hello to my favorite wife. Well, my only wife. And to see how your fundraising efforts have been going. You know, perhaps you could hold another one of those date auctions. They seem like good moneymakers.”

I lowered my voice and whispered, “Simon, go fuck yourself.” Oh, that felt good.

“Oh, sweetie. If you’re smart—and I know you are—you wouldn’t go ’round pissing me off.”

“I don’t have your money. I’ve told you that. But if I did, I still wouldn’t give it to you. I earned that money by marrying you, which I have really come to regret,” I hissed.

“Well, you’ll have many more regrets in your future if you don’t come to your senses.”

Something snapped. I was done. Just done.

“Look. Don’t call me anymore. Not ever again unless you are bringing me divorce papers. Otherwise, stay away from me or I’ll get a restraining order.”

He laughed. “You can’t get a restraining order against me. I’ve never touched you, and I pose no physical danger to you at all.”

“Don’t worry. I can embellish a story as well as the next person. And I’ll do that if I need to. So like I said, stop calling me. Or you’ll be sorry.”

“Now, Nara, I would be careful if I were you—”

Shaking, I swiped my phone closed and buried my face in my hands.

The phone buzzed again. Brodie.

had fun last night. let’s do it again.

Ugh. All these men could go to hell.

* * *

At lunchtime, Joi and I called an Uber to run over to the bridal shop for her last fitting. With the wedding two weeks away, the pressure was on, and she spent the better part of each day on the phone with caterers, florists, calligraphers, and a dozen other vendors who were playing a part in her big day. And then there were the families.

I vowed to remain single. I had no interest in the bullshit drama Joi was going through, and besides, my company took all my time and energy. I’d be damned if I was going to waste that on some guy who would only let me down in the long run. But that wasn’t to say I was not up for some fun…

“We’re here!” Joi squealed, practically jumping out of the Uber before it fully stopped. She ran for the bridal shop’s front door like she was greeting an old friend, leaving me behind to approach it with my usual scorn. After all, I was several hundred bucks into this wedding thanks to this place.

Stop.

I had to buck the bad attitude, if not for Joi’s sake, then for mine. I didn’t have the spare energy to walk around with a chip on my shoulder. Her special day was coming up, and she deserved to be celebrated by someone who wasn’t wearing a resting bitch face.

I sat on one of the salon’s white, fluffy sofas and nibbled on Jordan almonds. My dress was ready, waiting for me to pay the balance at the front desk. Oh, there was nothing I wanted to do more than spend four hundred dollars on a dress I didn’t even like. But hey, what were friends for?

Joi bounded out of the dressing room in her partially fitted gown, the back wide open, holding fluffy layers of tulle and other fabric.

“Well?” she said, twirling in front of me.

I had to admit, she made a pretty bride.

“They’re going to have me come in for one last fitting just a few days before the wedding, because I’m still losing weight. Can you believe it?” She skipped back to the dressing room with the saleslady running after her.

My phone buzzed. Brodie again.

i have an offer you can’t refuse. well, shouldn’t refuse

That made me laugh. And damn if I didn’t need a laugh just then. Even though I wanted nothing to do with dating.

if I can’t refuse it, do I get to know what it is?

Oh my god. Was I flirting?

nope.

Well, then.

what if I don’t trust you?

you would be smart. miss happy

Oh what the hell. The memory of him helping the homeless guy melted my cold heart.

you still there?

yes, sorry. at a bridal salon

you getting married ?

um, no. my friend is

whew. i’m not into married women

Note to self—don’t let this guy know I actually was married. Married to an asshole in a fake union, but married nonetheless. I continued the text-versation.

what kind of women are you into?

Joi came bounding out of the dressing room again, saleslady in tow.

“What do you think of this headpiece? I might get it instead of a veil.” She was breathless in her excitement. Bridal salons were her kryptonite. What she would do for fun after the wedding was over, I had no idea.

“Mmmm. I like the veil better.” Actually, I hated veils, but I knew Joi loved them. This indecision was just last minute jitters.

She ran back into the dressing room with that poor woman on her heels.

I returned to my phone. Shit, had I really just asked Brodie what kind of women he liked? But before I could make a joke about it, his answer popped into my phone.

women like you

So. There it was. My heart pounded, because the ball was in my court. Well, my virtual court. He liked me. He was handsome and sexy.

What the hell was wrong with me?

But I needn’t have worried. Before I was able to come up with something clever to say, he let me off the hook.

so what do you say to my offer you shouldn’t refuse?

what’s the offer?

a date. with me

that’s all you’ll tell me?

that’s all you need

well then. okay. i accept