Page 36 of Light My Fire Three Times
I hope I’m right.
I grab my phone and open the FaceTime app before I can talk myself out of it. Ivy picks up almost immediately, her face lighting up like she’s been waiting for me to call.
“Oh, my goodness, Liv!” she exclaims, as if I’ve just won an award for most dramatic entrance. “You look gorgeous. Seriously, you’reglowing!”
I blink at her reflection in the screen. Ivy’s face is lit with her usual smile, full of excitement and energy that I know I’ll need in a minute. “You sure about that? I’m about to topple over from these shoes.”
Ivy grins, knowing me better than anyone. “Of course, I’m sure. Those heels are gorgeous, Liv. You’ve got this. Now, tell me everything. Are you still freaked out, or have you put on your brave face?”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the slight grin that tugs at my lips. “I don’t even know why I’m so nervous,” I admit, adjusting the straps of my dress. “I’ve been on dates before, but this feels different. Karl’s… well, he’s Karl. I guess I don’t know much about him yet.”
Ivy leans closer to the screen, suddenly very serious in that over-the-top way she does when she’s about to give me one of her motivational speeches. “Look, I know it feels wild, but this could be your fresh start. You're in a new town, you've got a new business, and you're clearly doing a lot better than when you were in that office job. You’ve got nothing to lose except for maybe some dignity… but honestly? You can probably find it again. Plus, Karl is a good guy.”
I snort at her words, her teasing tone making me relax a little. “Yeah, I think I’ve lost most of my dignity at this point, but hey, one more night won’t hurt.”
She winks at me. “There’s the Liv I know. And honestly, this is the perfect opportunity to just… be yourself. No pretenses. No pressure. Just… go have fun! Who knows? You might like him.”
I glance at my phone screen, biting my lip. “You know what’s scary? I already think I do. I like him. A little too much.”
“Ohhhhh,” Ivy says with that singsong voice, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Well, look at you! Perhaps this is your romantic comedy moment. The one where you fall for the guy and everything turns out perfect. But hey, if it doesn’t, you’ve got the coffee truck. You’ll be fine. You'll be the one making the dreams come true.”
I take a deep breath and step back from the mirror. “I don’t know if I can do the whole romantic comedy thing,” I admit, fiddling with the ends of my hair. “But I guess I’m about to find out. I just… I don’t want to screw it up, you know? The whole small-town vibe is already weird enough.”
Ivy smiles, and she shrugs. “If you screw it up, that’s just another chapter in the story. We can make a whole series out of your dating life, Liv. But first? You’ve gotta live the story. You’re the one in charge.”
Her words land in my chest like a warm hug. And, of course, I immediately feel a little braver. “Thanks, Ivy. You always know just what to say. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
She grins. “You’d probably make some wild decisions and call me to cry about it later. But now go get ‘em, Liv! I want all the details. The good, the bad, and the incredibly awkward moments. You’d better have an 'I kissed a fireman' story by the end of tonight.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. “I’ll try, Ivy. Thanks again. I’ll text you later. You’ll hear about everything.”
After ending the call, I stand there for a few seconds, letting her words sink in. Maybe Ivy’s right.
Perhaps I should take the plunge, let go of my nerves, and enjoy the night. Karl might have his issues, and we both know there’s a lot of tension between us, but tonight could be the start of something new.
With one last glance at the mirror, I slip on my jacket, straighten my posture, and head toward the door. I take a deep breath, feeling a little lighter than I did five minutes ago.
There’s nothing left to do but see where this date takes me. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
“Okay, Liv,” I murmur to myself, feeling like a character in one of those cheesy rom coms Ivy loves. “Let’s make this happen.”
The moment I catch my breath, a soft knock at the door interrupts my thoughts, and I jump slightly, startled. I glance at the clock, right on time.
I peek through the blinds.
There he is.
Karl Madden.
He’s back at his truck, leaning casually against the door, arms crossed, looking like he stepped straight out of some superhero movie with a bad boy twist.
Tall, lean, with messy dark hair that looks like he’s been running his hands through it all day, and a scruffy yet intentional beard. His T-shirt clings to his body in all the right ways, showing off his tattoos and a physique that was clearly designed to make me weak in the knees.
He’s got this confident swagger to him, like he knows everyone is watching him, and frankly, he doesn’t mind one bit.
I try to stay calm, but it’s hard to ignore his dangerous charm. He's the kind of guy who could lead you into trouble and make you love every second of it. But he’s also got that easy, disarming smile, the one that says, “I know you’re intrigued, and I’m okay with that.”
I take a deep breath and open the door. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t for him to look this good.
