“Then why are you here?” I hope the question isn’t rude, but it feels a little weird for her to be at a Valentine’s event, in the singles section, if she’s not trying to connect with someone.
“I was forced against my will.” She takes a sip of her wine. “My friend and her boyfriend got tickets. They wanted me to tag along because they think I need to find someone who makes me as happy as they are.”
“They sound like my sister. It’s perfectly okay to be happy with yourself. Relationships never work out.”
“Why are you here, then?” She eyes me cautiously.
It’s a fair question since she doesn’t know who I am. Hell, she probably thinks I’m doing the same thing I just saved her from.
“I’m working the event.” There, that’s close enough to the truth. I don’t enjoy telling people I’m one of the owners, especially if I don’t know them.
“They let you drink?” She nods toward my glass.
“The owners are pretty lax.” I grin at her.
That seems to appease her curiosity, and she holds out her hand. “I’m Jasmin.”
“Parker.” I place my hand in hers and lightly shake it before letting it go. “So, where’s the happy couple you came with?”
Jasmin glances around the room before smiling. She lifts her hand to point out the only couple on the dance floor. “There they are.”
“Nice. They don’t care what people think about them. It’s a good quality to have.”
“Yeah, except they are absolutely disgusting in showing how much they love each other.”
“How?” That piques my interest. “Are they voyeurs or something?”
“No, nothing like that.” She shakes her head and giggles. It’s adorable. “It’s the heart eyes and notes they constantly send to each other. We can’t hang out without them telling a story about some cutesy thing they’ve done.”
“And that sounds like my brother,” I groan. “Why can’t the people that care about us understand we like being our own company with an occasional fun time mixed in?”
“Right? It’s like they can’t fathom a world where people are content in themselves.” She shakes her head again. “Are you on break? You’re making tonight bearable, and I could use a little of that right now.”
“Give me a few and I can clock out.” It’s not a complete lie. I need to let some of my siblings know not to come to me for anything for the rest of the night. They can go to the person who makes the decisions.
Peter and Piper are the first two I see. “Hey, if you need me…don’t.”
“Why? Are you leaving?” Piper’s eyes are laser focused on me.
“No, I’ll be here.” I hope that changes, though. “But there’s a woman I wouldn’t mind spending some time with.”
My sister claps her hands and squeals, actually squeals. “Go on. Meeting someone on Valentine’s Day is so freaking romantic.”
There’s a part of me that wants to correct her, but I know it won’t do any good. It’s better she thinks whatever she wants. She’s already seeing multiple dates for me and Jasmin. She gives me a quick hug and rushes off to find her boyfriend.
“So, she doesn’t know you’re one of the owners?” Peter asks, putting the pieces together. “Lying is a hell of a way to start something.”
“She knows I’m working the event; that’s all. Besides, she’s not from Asheville. There’s no chance I’ll ever see her again. Besides, you know I don’t do relationships.”
“One day you’re going to meet someone who will change that.”
“Never.” I shake my head and turn away.
“Famous last words.” Peter calls out as I head back to Jasmin. He’s out of his mind if he thinks anything is going to come out of this. From my quick conversation with Jasmin, I think we’re on the same page.
I weave through couples mingling with each other and find Jasmin exactly where she was when I left.
“That didn’t take long.” She smiles and pulls an empty chair next to hers. “Do events like this happen often?”
