“You’re very perceptive.”
“I’ve been told.”
“So I’m not usually one to brag, but I sort of landed my dream job today, and you… you’re inVoguemagazine. I think a celebration is in order. Want to grab a drink?”
“Yes! A hundred percent,” she said.
She literally jumped into my arms and hugged me, and it didn’t feel weird at all.
YOU KNOW WHENyou meet someone, and you feel like you’ve know them your whole life, even though you know you’ve never once laid eyes on each other? That was how I felt with Lucian. No one could forget a face like his. He was gorgeous, exotic, with this French creamy skin and longish black hair and blue eyes. His smile was warm, and his personality made him instantly approachable.
We went out to dinner and celebrated on the first night we met. Halfway through the night, I had forgotten whether we were celebrating our career accomplishments or celebrating the fact that we had met each other.
“Tell me everything about you,” he’d said.
He couldn’t believe I had never had a serious boyfriend.
“I’ve just never met the right person.”
“I get that. I was with someone for seven years, and really, it never felt like it would be forever.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “I want to see you again, Evey.”
“Really?”
“You just have this thing. You’re beautiful and funny and smart, and I knew in five minutes I’d want to see you again.”
“Do you believe in fate?” I asked him.
“I want to. I’m going to start right now. Can I eat dinner with you tomorrow?”
So soon, I thought? But that was old Evey talking. “Yes.”
“And Monday?”
“Yes.”
“Tuesday?”
I laughed. “Um, that might be pushing it.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ve had a lot of wine.”
After the restaurant closed, Lucian walked me to the door of my building. “I get it though,” I said.
“Get what?” He backed me against the glass lobby door and braced his hand on the back of my neck.
“How it feels to be with someone you really want to be around.”
“Exactly,” he said before pecking my lips. “See you tomorrow?”
I pulled him in and kissed him harder. “See you.”
“LUCKY BASTARD,” Isaid, as I twirled on the red barstool. The place was empty. It was magic hour and poor Zack couldn’t leave, so I thought I’d pay him a visit. He was dressed as Chewbacca, except that he had removed the headpiece. He basically looked like an average guy wearing a fur onesie.
“He deserves it, Mona,” Zack stressed. “Do you think I’ll ever get out of here?”
“Zack, we let a lot slip with you.”
“Can you get me a meeting? Like you got Lucian?”
