Caroline was our sweetheart, so kind and nurturing. Being a first-grade teacher was her true calling in life, and I loved watching her thrive in her career.
And then there was me, the only one in the group who had been married and widowed. It wasn’t like that was the plan, but life has a way of royally fucking up your plans. I had several amazing years with Frederick Daughtry, marrying him only three months after we met while I was still a wild college girl. Everyone thought I was crazy and a complete gold digger, but the former was the only truth. I was completely out of mind to get married so young and to a man who was twenty years older than me, but I didn’t care. Freddy and I were madly in love, and his daughter was the light of my life. Even though she was only twelve years younger than me, I didn’t care.
As the night went on, the overwhelming pity party I had perpetually been in started to rear its ugly head. Trying to find any form of distraction, I asked the group, “So, ladies, any juicy dating stories we haven’t heard yet?”
Harper bowed her head while raising her hand. “I am so embarrassed to share this one, but it makes for a good story.”
Sawyer chewed on her straw as her eyes got wide. “I am so excited but kind of mad you didn’t share earlier.”
Harper cleared her throat. “Remember that hot ginger I was supposed to see a few weeks ago?”
We all nodded.
“Well, we went out last Thursday. He was five inches shorter than me, way shorter than he had put on his profile. His teeth were yellow with horrible breath to match, and he had one of those honking laughs that makes you want to run away.”
“I hate when guys lie about their weight or height on those sites. I don’t get the point at all,” Caroline commented.
“And then—this is the best part—he admitted to me just as the check was coming that he had a micro-penis.” We all started scream-laughing as Harper finished. “Let’s just say we went Dutch and I blocked his number before my Uber arrived.”
“I think that story requires one more round. What do y’all say?” I asked, shoving away from the table.
The other ladies agreed before I ambled over to the bar.
Smoldering gray eyes met mine, stopping me in my tracks.
“Annabelle, nice to see you again.” Waylon straightened up a bit while wiping off the bar top in front of me.
“You work here?” I stupidly spit out, rubbing my hands down my sides. I felt like Ricky Bobby not knowing what to do with my hands.
He nodded. “Just started actually. What’re you lovely ladies drinking?”
“One Manhattan with two cherries, a gin and tonic, a dirty martini with blue cheese olive, and a cosmo. Please and thank you, Waylon.” I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with him, still too embarrassed from my earlier display.
“I’ll bring those right over to your table.”
“Thanks,” I muttered with a nervous smile before scurrying away.
Taking my seat, I left out a forced sigh. “Round two of making a fool of myself for the night—check.”
All three woman glanced over at the bar and then back to me with their mouths catching flies.
“Is that…?” Harper questioned.
Nodding, I answered, “The gent who helped put tampons back in my purse.”
Waylon made his way over to our group with the beverages on a tray.
Caroline twirled her long blonde curls between her fingers. “About time this bar got us some eye candy,” she muttered under her breath as he set the drinks down and cleared the empty glasses.
“Thank you.” I tried to smile at him, but all I could muster was a half-sneer that would have made a baby cry.
“Enjoy, ladies.” Waylon tossed a quick wink at me before rushing back behind the busy bar.
“The way that man looks at you, Annie, you need to give him your number.” Sawyer was eyeing me from across the table.
“Just leave it alone, for fuck’s sake. I am not interested in throwing myself into the terrible trials and tribulations of dating in my thirties. Living vicariously through the three of you is enough for me.” I was about to snap. None of them could possibly understand was it was like for me. I’d had the great love of my life and he had been ripped away from me way too early. No one would be able to compare to Freddy, so why even try?
Sawyer threw her hands in the air. “It’s dropped. I’m sorry, Annabelle.”
