“Because you’re settling.” Kathryn sighed. “Because you settled for Parker, and now you’re settling for the life Parker left you with.”
I gulped down another large sip of my drink.
She wasn’t wrong.
I so desperately wish she was, but Parker, my ex-husband, had set up our entire lives. He handed everything to do with everything before his bastard ass passed five years ago.
His bad habits finally caught up to him. No matter how many times I, and his sister, Kathryn’s wife, warned him, he never made any effort toward changing.
“I didn’t settle for Parker. I loved Parker.” I reminded her. “We married young because I loved him.”
Kathryn rolled her eyes.
“Everyone in this goddamn town—in the state of Louisiana—marries young cause they’re in love with their high school on and off again boyfriend.” She smirked playfully. “You’re not special, babe.”
“I know that.” I snorted.
Kathryn twisted her stool and leaned her arm into the back of her seat as she looked over the restaurant portion ofRomeaux and Juliet’s.
“El, I really think you should go out. Do something. Be spontaneous and get out of your old life.” She advised me. “Hayley and I are worried about you.”
“You told Hayley.” I paused.
Kathryn smiled apologetically.
“She’s my wife. I can’t lie when she asks.” She paused as my heart dropped into my stomach. Kathryn was quick to ease my concerns. “And she doesn’t care. She hated her brother just as much as I did. No one expects you not to move on. It’s been years.”
“It’s not about moving on. I moved on a long time ago, it’s—” I flicked the lemon wedged onto the rim of my glass. “Kendall.”
“Kendall is a big boy.”
“I know.”
“Who wants his mom to be happy.”
“I know, Kath.”
“So, this is about you then.” Kathryn shoved her nachos between us and squeezed my arm. “Look–”
I watched as she dug through her purse.
“I was going to give this to Hays, but I found it near the bathroom, and maybe it’s what you need.” She unfolded a flyer and rubbed its crinkles flat on the counter. “Be spontaneous. Help yourself here.”
I laughed at the flyer as soon as I read the details.
It wasn’t much of a flyer. More of a printout of a screen shot. A social media post with a large QR code taped to it. The bar tried to be more inclusive on their bulletin boards, but they really had to quit screenshotting things instead of just printing the actual information.
“A photoshoot?” I scoffed. “You want me to be a model to solve all my problems? With this body?”
“No, but it would be fun! You’re paired with a stranger. You give some God honest pansensualchemistry for some sexy shoot—El, it’s every thrill about a one-night stand without the sex!”
“I am not signing up for this.” I slid the paper back to Kathryn. “But it seems right up Hays alley.”
“Just–” She pushed it back to me. “Consider it.”
I chewed on a chip slowly and scanned the details twice more.
“Being spontaneous gives me anxiety.” I reminded her.
