Page 84 of A Little Bit Uncertain

After ordering some fancy martini, I pulled out my phone and started looking for some accommodations for the night. Less than five minutes into it, I was interrupted.

“Hey, pretty lady, are you waiting for someone?”

Beside me stood a very handsome man in a suit. He didn’t fill it out quite as nicely as Donovan, but not everyone could custom-tailor their clothing. He had dark hair and ocean-blue eyes you could get lost in.

“Um—not at the moment, no.” I could have hit my head with my palm. That wasn’t the right thing to say. Safety 101.

“My name is Nathan, and I’d love to join you then.”

“Um … I…”

My phone rang again, but that time it was Jules.

“I have to take this,” I said to Nathan and picked up my phone.

“Hey Audra, where are you, my love?” Based on the tone she was using with me, I knew she knew.

I tried to hold back the emotion in my voice because I was in public, and although my new friend was pretending not to listen, he was. The words stuttered out, “I’m … I’m in a bar.” The tears welled again.

“Ok, are you close or far from the restaurant?”

“Close. I took a right out of the restaurant and made it a block. If you take a right after you leave the restaurant, you’ll see it. Hold on.” Turning to Nathan, I whispered, “What is the name of this bar?”

“The Hotel is The Downtry, and we’re in the lobby bar.”

“Did you hear that, Jules? It’s Downtry’s lobby bar.”

“I’m coming for you. Don’t leave,” Jules ordered.

“No, it’s okay. Don’t leave your work thing.” A tear fell. God, how freaking embarrassing. If I could have afforded the hotel, I would have high-tailed it out of there to cry in my room.

“Don’t you dare leave,” she said, hanging up before I could argue. I put my phone down, and my new friend looked at me with confused and sad eyes.

“Long night?”

“God, yes. Just another instance of not quite knowing someone as well as you thought. Or maybe just not wanting to believe it, ya know?”

“Oh, do I ever. I can say with certainty, though, that whoever let you walk away tonight was a fool,” he ventured. “You never told me your name. Here.” He handed me some napkins.

“You’re too kind, Nathan. My name is Audra.”

“Audra. A pretty name for a pretty woman.”

“Thanks for the confidence boost. Nathan, are you wealthy?”

He almost spat his drink out, “I’m sorry, what?”

“Your suit is designer, your shoes are Louis Vuitton, and you’re wearing a Rolex. Are you obscenely rich?”

He looked around like he couldn’t believe what I was asking. And if I’m being honest, neither could I.

“I’m comfortable. I can’t say I’ve ever been asked that in the first three minutes of meeting someone. If you’re looking for a sugar daddy, it’s not me.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I promise I’m not. Another question: would you marry a nurse?”

“I’m sorry? Would I marry a nurse? I would marry whoever I fell in love with. My last girlfriend was a nurse, and the only reason we broke up is because she wanted to leave New York.”

“Would your parents approve of that?”