It’s a message from Andrea:

I open the door and she looks fresh as a daisy. Typical. She gives me a hug and hands me a steaming coffee. My third of the day. Hopefully this will be the one to make me feel human again.

Draco comes running into the hallway and jumps excitedly all over her.

“Hello, poo face.” She fishes a treat from her purse and gives him a treat. He runs off it with it and she turns to me. “How’s the head?”

“Pretty horrendous.” I smile back, sheepishly. My eyes pan down her body as I admire her flashy workout leggings and then I groan as I realize why she’s wearing them.

“You forgot about spin class, huh?” she smirks, reading the look of realization on my face.

“Completely,” I have to admit. Ugh. I don’t know if I can face it. But I also don’t know which is going to be harder ‒ convincing Andrea that I’m not going ‒ or actually doing the damn class.

“Chill, we have plenty of time, it doesn’t start ‘til four.” She sits down and glances around. “Danny not back yet?”

“He is, but I think he must be at yoga or meditation or something like that.”

“So he’s still off the booze then? I’m impressed.”

“Yeah, he’s doing really well. It was getting kind of out of hand after his Dad died.”

“It’s great he’s getting himself sorted. I do love party Danny, don’t get me wrong. But he was a bit out of control.”

“It’s me that’s getting out of control now. I know.” I’m shaking my head. I’m suddenly struggling to hold back the tears. “I can’t believe what I did last night, especially considering I might not even have a job soon. I really can’t afford to throw that amount of money away on a drunken whim while I meant to be saving for our girl’s trip,” I say in a shaky voice.

“Aw, come here Laur.”

She always calls me that when she’s being extra nice. She puts her arms around me and pulls me towards her lean body. “It’s not your fault some nasty con artist took advantage of you like that. It shouldn’t be allowed. Some poor drunk girl looking for love. How dare she do that to you!”

I dismiss her unflattering description of me and get to the point. “Do you really think there’s nothing in it?” I ask her gingerly.

“In the potion?” She takes my hand and looks at me earnestly. “No, I don’t. I think it’s a load of bullshit.”

“Yeah. I guess,” I sigh. I’m feeling more and more despondent about the whole thing.

“I blame Nina,” she says, frowning, “Putting these ridiculous ideas into your head when you were smashed on cocktails.”

“I don’t blame anyone but me. I guess I really wanted to believe it. I knew I shouldn’t but it just sounded so amazing. To make my neighbor fall in love with me! Can you imagine?”

“Look, if you really like this guy, why don’t you just ask him out?”

Ha. It’s so easy for Andrea. If she sees a guy she likes, she just goes up to him and starts talking to him. And then ignore his endless calls. I didn’t understand her.

“I find it really hard to just approach men like that. I’m really assertive at work and when I get back service, but when it comes to men,” I complain. “And anyway, I tried and look what happened. It couldn’t have gone worse!”

“Don’t let some silly incident with Draco put you off him.” She sighs

At the mention of his name, Draco ambles into the room still licking his lips. Such a darling. I don’t know what I would do without him and his cuddles. We make a fuss of him and I let him lick the foam from my coffee cup as I stroke his scraggy blond fur.

“Anyway…” Andrea continues. She’s far too focused to let doggie cuddles distract her from our conversation. “When are you going to ask him out?”

“Ask him out?” I screech. “I thought I was just going to try and talk to him first?”

“And say what? You’re not going to get to know him with the odd snippet of conversation in the driveway! And you have the perfect excuse now, anyway.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do! You say how sorry you are for the other morning and say that you hope he’ll accept your dinner invitation as a way to make it up to him. He won’t be able to refuse.”

“Ugh. I just don’t know if I’m up to it.” I pause. “It’s not my style.”

“What is your style, Lauren? You want a boyfriend but you’re too afraid to try and meet someone. You need to grow some balls, girl.”

Her words hit a nerve and I’m a little shocked. She knows me so well. Too well, maybe. But she isn’t finished yet apparently. She opens her mouth to continue. Oh god, what next?

“We’re in the 21^st century, babe. It’s the most exciting time to be alive as a woman. We have more choices than ever. A woman ran to become the president, and you can’t even ask a man over for dinner? You’re letting our side down.”

I have to laugh. “You think I’m a disappointment to the entire female population because I won’t ask a guy to go out with me? I think that’s a bit harsh. But…fine, whatever.”

“You’re coward, Lauren Appleton?” she accuses.

“No, I’m not.

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m very brave for the things that matter.”

“This matters a lot. What if he is your soul mate and you miss the opportunity because you are too chicken to ask him out.”

“What about him asking me out?”

She starts squawking like a chicken.

I take a deep breath. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” she asks, her eyes lighting up.

“I’ll ask him out,” I confirm, already regretting it.

“Pinkie promise?” She grins, wiggling her little finger in my direction.

She’s pushing it, now.

“Pinkie promise. As long as you drop it for the rest of the day. I’m actually looking forward to spin class now, so I won’t have to listen to you anymore!”

She rolls her eyes and smiles deviously as I push the horrifying thought of asking my gorgeous neighbor out to dinner to the back of my mind.

“Oh no, it’s raining,” I suddenly say with dismay as I glance out of the window.

“No excuses,” Andrea quickly tells me.

Jesus, she’s a slave driver sometimes. At least we have her miniature car to whizz around town in, Draco on my lap. I couldn’t deny him the hour spent being spoiled at the spinning studio reception area. They love him there and he adores the attention.

“You look perkier already,” she says as I return to the room, Lycra-clad and ready to sweat out all of last night’s sins and stupidity.

I feel a little better, I have to agree.

“Come on then Draco,” I say as I scoop him up and follow Andrea out of the door.

She makes kissing noises as she points to my potential future date’s door.

Shaking my head, I shove her towards the steps.