Page 42 of Forget Me

She gasped. “I thought you were ditching the dark side and turning your volunteer work into a job! Becoming one of us!”

I gave her half a smile. “Not everyone can be a pediatric nurse and save lives every day. The world needs accountants, too.”

“You can be an accountant and still see the romance in the world.”

“Can you?” I brushed a hand over the sad-looking tinsel garland that hung below the window, and a few tarnished silver strands dropped onto the table. Five of the bulbs had gone dark on the strand of multicolored lights that lined the window. Why hadn’t they taken all this shit down three weeks ago?

Bree picked up the dropped strands and arranged them in a six-pointed star on the table. “I think there’s hope for you. Once we find your Mystery Man, he’ll turn on your romance switch.”

“Is that a euphemism?”

She grinned. “Why, yes, it is. I’m sure your Mystery Man is a very talented—”

“Bree!” I glanced at the next table of sixty-something ladies. One of them wore red-framed glasses, a plastic tiara, and a hot-pink feather boa. Like Bree and me, they weren’t paying attention to the game on the television.

“—conversationalist, I was going to say.”

“That’s not what you were going to say.”

She shrugged. “Same difference. They both start with C. Want another drink?”

I glanced at my mostly full glass. Why did Mateo have to be right? The thought of drinking more wine made my stomach curdle.

“Wait! That’s him! That’s the cute guy!” Bree pointed behind me.

I spun in my chair to look, but the Sharks must have done something exciting because half the bar stood and cheered. I scanned the shouting faces for guys with glasses, but none of them was my Mystery Man. When the room had settled, I asked, “Do you still see him?”

“No, I lost him when the Sharks scored. I don’t see him now. Sorry.”

“What did he look like?”

“Tall, built, blondish. A jaw that could cut glass.” She sighed.

In California, that could have been anyone. From some random actor to Cooper Fallon to Larissa’s fiancé. “Was he wearing glasses?”

“No. I told you, my cute guy didn’t have glasses.” She glanced down at her phone. “Speaking of which, Josh is on his way. Want a ride home?”

“Yes, please.” If she’d seen my Mystery Man, I’d have stayed. But he wasn’t here.

“How am I supposed to find him and give this back?” I pulled the ring off my thumb and tucked it safely back between my boobs. If I found him, he could be my date to the gala. My memories were fuzzy, but I had a suspicion he’d been a smooth talker. He’d have never called me an alcoholic in front of my boss.

“You should post a Missed Connections on Craigslist.”

I raised my eyebrows. “That’s not still a thing.”

“It totally is! Though some of the posts are kind of disturbing.” She grimaced.

“Bree, what the hell? Why are you perusing the Missed Connections?”

“It’s how I met Josh. Didn’t I tell you?”

“You said you saw him at the grocery store and then bumped into him at a coffee shop. It was fate, you said.”

Her cheeks pinked. “I may have posted after the grocery store. And the coffee shop might have been our first date.”

“Oh. My. God. I have to say, that’s a little creepy and not nearly as romantic as fated love.”

“Hey, I just took the advice your mom always used to give us. Go for what you want. Anyway, think about it. The Missed Connections post.”

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