AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 1
Morgan Davis
“For fuck’s sake, when was the last time you got laid?” Zara teased me, her eyes twinkling mischievously over the rim of her iced latte. She lifted her eyebrows up and down a few times very suggestively, and my mouth dropped wide open in disbelief.
I felt my cheeks heat up, a warm flush spreading across my face faster than a blazing wildfire. “Zara! You can’t just ask that out loud in a coffee shop,” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on our conversation. She always had a flare for the dramatic, and she never passed up an opportunity to make me blush.
It was like her superpower.
For whatever reason, she thought it built character. I disagreed, but that didn’t save me from moments like these. Still, I loved her. She was my best friend and had been through it all with me, from one break up to the next, to my forever impending single-dom.
“Oh please, Morgan,” she waved off my concern with a flick of her perfectly manicured hand, “we live in Seattle, not a fucking nunnery. Besides, don’t think I don’t see how you’re dodging the question. Now kindly answer, please and thank you.”
I sighed, stirring my coffee absentmindedly. “You know I’ve been too swamped with work. And after the whole debacle with Mr. No-Long-Distance-Asshat, I’m not exactly rushing to jump back into the dating pool.”
Zara rolled her eyes dramatically. “You mean after Mr. ‘I-can’t-handle-a-few-thousand-miles’ bailed on you the day he was supposed to fly out? Girl, that was ages ago. Okay. Maybe only two weeks ago, but you need to jump back on the horse. Or, you know, someone who resembles one. Or maybe you just need a hard ride… Whatever. You know what I mean.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Your metaphors need a little work. And it’s not like I haven’t thought about it. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Zara leaned in, her expression suddenly turning serious. “Morgan, come on, you moved across the country to start your company, Davis Media Relations, and that’s no small feat. You’ve built something amazing here. But this,” she gestured at me with a flourish, “isn’t living. You work so fucking hard. You need fun, excitement, maybe a steamy fling or two or ten. You know, you really deserve it.”
A part of me hated that I thought she was right. She’d spent all morning pestering me to drag myself away from work for brunch because we hadn’t seen each other in ages. I had been swamped with my most recent client. PR disasters didn’t wait for anybody. I’d had a bit of a clusterfuck going on since Thursday, and it showed no signs of letting up.
Even now, I was worried about it.
I bit my lip, mulling over her words in my head. “I know, I know. It’s just hard to think about dating. Every time I do, I just remember how he called, literally as his flight was boarding, just to say he couldn’t do long-distance, and he wasn’t coming after all. It felt like such a slap in the face, especially after all the planning and the build-up with the stupid ring and the three years I wasted on his dick face.”
Zara reached across the table, squeezing my hand. “I know it hurts, but that’s all the more reason to move on. You need someone who appreciates how incredible you are, someone who won’t get cold feet just because of a little—okay, a lot of—distance.”
I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude for my friend. She always knew what to say to make me feel better.
“Thanks, Zara. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I said, and I meant every word.
She grinned, releasing my hand. “Probably turn into a hermit and adopt six more cats. But don’t worry, I won’t let that happen. Now, let’s talk strategy. There’s a whole city of potentials out there, and we’re going to find you someone who’s worthy of the amazing Morgan Davis.”
I laughed, the sound mingling with the clatter of cups and the soft hum of conversation all around us. A man close by heard me laugh and looked my way, but I didn’t pay him any mind. I was too much in my head to care.
Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to put my ex-fiancé in the past and see what Seattle truly had to offer.
“After all, what’s the worst that could happen?” I didn’t know why I said that out loud… Maybe because I was an idiot.
Those were famous last words, weren’t they…? Anytime anyone said that in the movies, something bad always happened, but that wasn’t real life, right?
Zara cleared her throat and leveled me with a knowing look. I immediately got a bad feeling about whatever she was about to say. I opened my mouth to instantly renege on what I’d said, but she beat me to the punch first.
“I’m thinking immediate action is required, and I have the perfect solution. You and I are going out tonight, and before you even think of protesting, I’m not taking no for an answer.” Zara wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Fuck…
I raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and apprehension swirling inside me. This could either go really well, or really, really badly.
Probably really badly…
“Zara, I don’t know. The last time you said that, I got so tipsy that I ended up on stage at a karaoke bar singing ‘I Will Survive’ in front of a crowd of poor, unsuspecting strangers.”
“And you killed it,” Zara shot back with a grin. “Besides, tonight will be different. Think less public humiliation, more scouting for potential Mr. Right… or at least Mr. Dick-Me-Down-Right-Now.”
I couldn’t suppress a giggle. “I’m not sure my singing or my love life needs that kind of exposure again.”
