Page 20 of Merrily Ever After
Zoe
Chapter One
December
Dublin
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I sigh inwardly as a man’s shoulder appears in the corner of my eye. Sometimes I hate being the shortest girl in the room. Even in heels I’m only at chest level to most people around me. Great for space on airplanes and the extra three years I was able to go trick or treating. Bad for reaching things on shelves and situations just like this.
“Hey. Can I buy you a drink?” The question is slightly louder this time, and I realize he thinks I didn’t hear him. Or maybe that I didn’t notice him. Him, standing directly beside me and now brushing deliberately against my arm.
“That’s okay,” I say, glancing up. Cleanshaven. Recent haircut. Eyes a little bleary from a few after-work pints. “I’m with my friends.”
“So am I.” He leans a little closer. He smells stale. “I’m Karl.”
“Great. Honestly, I’m good. Thanks, though.”
“What’s your—”
“Did you know I have an almost four-year-old at home?” I ask, turning to him. “And that he’s had a cough and a runny nose for what feels like seventy-five years, which is weird because again, he’s not even four?”
“I … no.”
“Well, I do,” I tell him. “I also have a pretty demanding job that I love and that I sometimes put above people in my lifebecause it pays for my nice apartment and I like nice things. Despite that, I can’t run more than three miles no matter how hard I try, my hair’s been thinning since my pregnancy, I pee a little every time I sneeze, and do you see this zit?” I point to the volcano on the side of my chin. “I think it’s gaining consciousness.”
The man stares at the monster for a beat too long before his eyes snap back to mine.
“Also, I think one my ears is slightly bigger than the other. I don’t know if I should be worried about that or not.”
Karl glances down at the zit again. “Is that a no?”
“It’s a no,” I confirm. “Appreciate the offer, though.”
As if on cue, the bartender hands me my receipt and I pick up the drinks, ignoring my new friend as I push my way slowly into the crush of people behind me.
“Excuse me. Zit woman coming through. I will spill this on you. I will absolutely not hesitate to— thank you.”
I squeeze through the crowd; the glasses balanced expertly in my hands. One whiskey. One red wine. And one ice water with a slice of lemon.
Not a drop is spilled as I make it to the snug I had the genius idea to reserve yesterday, where my friends Christian and Megan sit.
“For the lady and her boring man,” I announce, placing the drinks before them.
“I can cancel you for that,” Christian says. “It’s cool not to drink now.”
“Not if it’s because you’re on a juice cleanse.”
“It’s not a juice cleanse,” he says calmly. “It’s a Winter Reset.”
I pull my seat in, blowing a strand of hair from my face. “How much have you paid someone to tell you to do stupid stuff, because I want that job?”
“It’s just a phase,” Megan says, patting his arm. “Ignore him. He’s grumpy.”
“Yeah, because he’s been drinking celery juice and eating salmon fillets three times a day.”
Christian gives me a look. “It’s a nutrition based—”
