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“What?”
I sighed. “Can we go out tonight?”
“Of course,” she agreed. “Tell Porter I’ll call him as soon as I can. I’ll pick Seth up and meet him at home.”
“Thanks.” It was going to take more than a phone call to explain what had happened. At least I had secured a sympathetic ear for the night’s festivities, so I had something to look forward to. Why then did I feel worse than ever, as if by talking about it, I was going to make it real?
Porter had found me crying, and before I could wipe my tears away, he planted himself in front of my desk, the picture of concern. “What happened? Was it Linc?”
I nodded helplessly. I had to get a hold of myself. Crying in the office wasn’t professional. “He broke up with me.”
Porter’s face had darkened, and he stormed out of the house. I watched him go, lacking the energy to stop him. Some part of me rejoiced in the tongue lashing that Linc was about to receive. If you couldn’t count on your friends to chew out your ex, then what good were they? I hoped that Porter would make Linc feel as bad as I did.
When Porter returned, he had little to say. I didn’t ask him how it had gone. I didn’t want to know. “I’m going out with Gina tonight.”
“Good,” he replied. “I’ll give her a call.”
“She said she would pick up Seth and meet you at home.”
“Okay.” He made a move to go upstairs and then paused. “I don’t feel any loyalty to Linc to keep his secrets, so I’m just going to be honest. He told me he was frightened of commitment.”
I sniffed and nodded. I wasn’t surprised, though I wasn’t sure when I had ever asked him to make a commitment. All that stuff about having his baby was just a fantasy for the future. Sure, he had looked hot when he was holding Seth, but I hadn’tsaidanything about it.
And maybe I had been hoping that we could make a family for ourselves someday, but I wasn’t trying to trap him. He did his part only too willingly. I didn’t think it was the baby that scaredhim but the idea of marriage and settling down. If that was the case, then good riddance.
I went home after work and changed into my most bombshell outfit. It was a tight miniskirt with a halter top. I didn’t even know why I owned it, except that every woman deserved to have one ensemble that made her feel sexy. Maybe I had bought it in a fit of despair over my last dating disaster.
I found it in the back of my closet and wriggled into it, brushing my hair out in the mirror. I felt better already. If Linc could take advantage of me, then I could damn well find another guy to do the same.
I went to the Lucky Lady early, stepping up to the bar by myself. It was just before seven, and the band was setting up. It was a country cover band, and I knew the guitarist. He had been into the lumberyard to pick up some pieces for a shed he was working on. He was a little bit older than me but still cute.
I grabbed a beer and walked over to inspect their work. The entire band stopped what they were doing when they caught sight of me. The attention was rewarding. I felt like a princess among commoners, like I had something that everyone else wanted. Never mind that I knew exactly what they wanted, and I didn’t actually plan on giving it up.
“Aly, right?” the guitarist said.
The rest of the band went back to their instruments, assuming that I was spoken for.
“That’s right,” I said. “I didn’t know you were in a band.”
“It’s not a big thing,” he said, dismissing the compliment. “We play nights and weekends sometimes.”
I nodded. “I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Thanks.” He came down off the stage to talk to me. “I thought you were with that soldier.”
I shrugged. “Things don’t always go as planned.”
“Okay.” He grinned, sensing an opening. “I’d love to buy you a beer if you stick around till our set’s done.”
“We’ll see.” I smiled, not giving an inch.
“Still at the lumberyard?” It seemed he didn’t want to let me go.
“Jacob!” the lead singer called.
“Gotta go,” Jacob said apologetically.
I nodded without caring, wandering back to the bar. There was another guy leaning up against the brass railing, checking me out. “Hi,” I said.
