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Walking in on the man you thought was the love of your life balls deep in another woman was enough to jade even the most romantic of hearts, and I wasn’t any exception. After that, I told myself I was done with relationships. That had been four months ago, and I was still holding firm to that vow. But it still stung to watch everyone around me so blissfully in love. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy for them, of course. They were my friends and I loved them like crazy. But I was only human, and the fact they wereallsettling down shined a big, bright spotlight on the fact that I was officially the last woman standing in our friend group.
The last holdout.
The sad, lonely spinster chick.
I might as well have bought a dozen cats and started hoarding ketchup packets and old newspapers to really lean into the shut-in stereotype.
My cell pinged, pulling me from my miserable thoughts. I pulled it from my back pocket and swiped my thumb across the screen, smiling at the message from my friend Gage.
Viking:You finished with latest arts and crafts project yet? I’m starving.
I breathed out a laugh and gave my head a tiny shake as my thumbs flew across the screen.
Me:What a shocker. You’re always starving.
Viking:You know me so well, Bits. Now move your ass.
I let out a snort as I typed out my response.
Me:Bossy.
Viking:Hungry. There’s a difference.You know how I get.
Oh, I knew all right. I could just picture his face as he typed that. If there was one thing that made Gage Langdon grouchy, it was hunger. I imagined his pronounced brows pulling together and the way his lips always turned down when he pouted.
I let out snort as I wrote back.
Me:Fine.I’m leaving in a few. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.
“Let me guess. Gage?”
I blinked and looked up, having momentarily forgotten Poppy was standing right next to me. “Huh?”
She tipped her head toward my phone with a wry grin and lifted brows. “Texting you. It’s Gage, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s just bitching about dinner is all.”
“I knew it,” she hissed. She squinted and circled her finger in front of my face. “You get this little smile on your face every time—”
I shook her arm off and dropped my head back on a dramatic groan. “God, not this again.” My friends had an annoying habit of teasing me about my friendship with Gage. “I’ve told you guys a million times, Gage and I are just friends. Besides, you know I’m never—”
Poppy interrupted me by blowing out a loud, obnoxious raspberry. “Yeah, yeah. You’re never dating another man as long as you live,” she said, adopting a sarcastic, mocking tone before switching back to her normal voice. “So you’ve said a million times.”
Just like Poppy and Farah, Gage was one of the people I’d grown closest to since my move to Redemption. He’d been new to town as well, having moved here to start a security company with his two Army buddies, Jensen Rose and Laeth Harker.
Jensen was married to my friend Shane, and Laeth was with my girl Deva, making it so Gage and I were the last two single people in our close circle. For all of my girlfriends, that obviously meant we were destined to be together.
“Maybe I’ll get lucky with one million and one, and you guys will get off my back.” I crossed my fingers teasingly.
She gave me an exaggerated pout. “You two would just be so cute together,” she whined.
“Well, of course we would,” I joked. “I’m adorable as hell. I’d look good with anyone.”
“You know what I mean,” she huffed.
“I do, but like I said, it’s not like that. He’s one of my best friends, just like you.” I arched a brow and changed the subject. “Now, didn’t you say Jase was waiting for you? You should probably get home to your man.”
Poppy held up her hands in surrender. “All right, I’ll drop it. But when the day finally comes, I’m going to be the first person to tell you I told you so.”
