The tears that were happy quickly turn sad. “I thought Aidan and I were going to sail off into the sunset.”
"You know what you can do now? You can write your own happy ending. Literally. You can turn this into a book. Friends-to-lovers. Something along those lines.”
I sniff. “Look at that, I already have an idea for book two. Provided by none other than the First Lady of romance.” I turn serious. “Thank you, Diana. For giving me a chance.”
“I got you in the door, but your work stood on its own two feet. Don't discount that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She chuckles. “Will you come and see me sometime soon?”
“Of course.”
“Keep your head up, okay sweetie? Everything will work out. I have a good feeling.”
We hang up and I squeal a second time, only this time it's much louder than before. Then I pick up the phone and call Sydney. When she doesn't answer, I leave her a rambling voicemail. Just as I am about to set down the phone, a text message from an unknown number comes through.
Hi, Natalie. This is Grady. Or Dr. Decker, as you called me on New Year’s Eve. Would you be interested in a gin and tonic sometime?
Maybe it's my giddiness over the book.
Maybe it’s the fact that I'm so fucking sick of hurting.
I respond and accept his offer.
* * *
The barwhere I've agreed to meet Grady is only a few blocks from my place. It's old school, with the booths tucked away in corners, and dark lighting. Grady waves when I walk in. His hair is freshly cut and neatly combed. He wears a light blue sweater over a white collared shirt. He is handsome and a doctor, making him every mother's dream for her daughter.
The closer I get to his table, the more I realize that his hair annoys me. It's too perfect. I want to run my hands through it and mess it up. Is the rest of Grady just as boring as his hair? Maybe not. He had a good bedside manner when he was stitching me up. He was funny. Perhaps these traits can make up for his humdrum hair.
Shedding my jacket, I placed it on the back of the chair and sink down. Grady signals for the server, and when she comes over he orders a gin and tonic for me.
“Is that alright?” he asks, his eyebrows forming a ‘V.’ “Would you prefer something different? I can call her back over here.”
I wave him off. “No, that's perfect. Thank you.”
Grady smiles at me. He leans back and crosses one ankle over the opposite knee. “So, who did you kiss on New Year's Eve?”
His question takes me by surprise. “Excuse me?”
“The last time I saw you, it was right after the clock struck midnight. It wasn't until I got home that night that I thought about who was lucky enough to have your lips on theirs.”
I shake my head. “Nobody. Unless you count my sister.”
Grady blinks twice. “You kissed your sister?”
“On the cheek,” I clarify.
Grady narrows his eyes. “You didn't kiss a fella?”
I laugh at the wordfella. “I didn't kiss a fella. Or bite any piggin’ string. Did you kiss a dame?”
He nods. “Of course. How else do you ring in the New Year?”
“Did you know her? Or was she a stranger?” The server sets my drink down in front of me and walks away.
“Stranger,” Grady says nonchalantly.
