Page 17 of Happily Ever Never

“Okay, now that we’ve exhausted that, and…no, I’m not makinga pun or joke—” Brandi started.

“I didn’t think you were. We’re literally out of them,” Isaid.

“Oh, we were out of them before you even began.” She rolledher eyes, still laughing. “Anyway, I’m excited about this, and I have someideas.”

I nodded, knowing that Brandi always had ideas. “What do youhave in mind?”

“I know we already have a sketch, but I want to go over itin a little bit more detail. Not detail where we have togo bigger, but to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“I’ve got you. And then, after that, we’re working on yourback piece, right?”

“You know it. I have ideas for that, too.”

“I have no doubt you do.”

“By the way, I have someone you would love. I know you saidno before, but I think you should let me set you up.”

I shook my head at her familiar refrain. “I don’t do blinddates. Ever.”

She waved me off. “You’re missing out. I have the perfectperson for you. I saw you looking around at all these couples here. I can makeyou that happy.”

I leaned forward and gave her my most brilliant smile. “Areyou offering yourself? You’re going to leave your husband and fall madly inlove with me? Because if that’s the case, all you had to do was say something.”

She pushed at my shoulder, laughing as the others groaned,making fun of me.

I just shook my head and looked down at our sketches,knowing this was what I did best. I worked with my clients and played with art.

Dating? No, I didn’t do that well. Or at all. A night wasfine. Anything more? No, thank you.

And if I didn’t make good decisions when it came to datingsomeone I knew, there was no way I would go on a blind date.

Ever.

Chapter 5

May

“And then he said that the Triceratops wasn’t even real. Howcan it not be real? I mean, it’s a dinosaur. It’s fact.” Luke nodded solemnlyas he spoke about his day, and I nodded back, handing him a tissue so he couldwipe his nose. “I totally understand. Triceratops arereal. Remember we went to the museum and saw the fossil?”

“It was so cool with all the horns. I think Triceratops ismy favorite.”

“It really was the best. So, Triceratops is your favoritenow? I thought it was the T. Rex?”

Luke shrugged. “I like all dinosaurs. But I think theTriceratops is my favorite because they’re not as big, so they can surpriseyou.”

Luke was slightly small for his age, and I knew some of theother kids on the playground weren’t nice to him because of it. Brooke hadalready spoken with the teachers about it, so hopefully it wouldn’t become aproblem. But I liked that he was doing his best.

“You’re brilliant for loving them. I like Triceratops, too.”

“I thought you liked Compys.”

I grinned. “Those are my favorites. Compsognathus.”

“Do you like them because they seem cute, but they reallyaren’t?” he asked.

I laughed. “They’re still cute, even when they are mean andeating what they want. They are predators. And they look adorable. Like littlekittens.”

“Darcy’s kitten has really sharp claws, but it’s cute andsmall and purrs against my chest.” Luke looked up at me. “Do you think thatMommy will let me have a kitten? Maybe I’ll ask Leif.”