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Despite dating a range of guys, she could never find the right one—the one man who could turn her heart into a galloping group of stallions. Who could make her head spin from the look of adoration in his eyes. The one who could make her feel at peace. As if everything was right in her world.
Well…
Okay, she was lying to herself.
One man could—despite her obvious protests—make her feel that way. It would never work out. There was no use trying.
Sometimes, she wondered if there was something wrong with her. Maybe it was her fault all the relationships ended.
Yeah, there was no maybe to that. It was always her fault they ended.
Gabby would tell her she was crazy, that half of them weren’t her fault. She wouldn’t argue about that half. Like Champ. Cheater extraordinaire. She still felt sick to her stomach she dated the man—even if he had been one of the best she’d ever had in bed.
Sex wasn’t everything.
But it sure was nice.
Erasing all the turbulent thoughts from her mind, she decided to get off the subway early and walk a few blocks home. Get some fresh air. It would hopefully clear her mind from all the rolling thoughts that would never shut off. She always liked to portray to the world she was good, especially to her friends, but deep inside, she felt frozen. As if in limbo. Stuck in a world she couldn’t escape.
Her steps slowed as she neared the convenience store close to her apartment. Sure, she had a whole bag of white chocolate-covered pretzels in her tote, but she had a craving for a candy bar. A Butterfinger. Yum. Her second favorite thing in the world to binge on. Although, she tried to curb that craving more than the pretzels. There was no need to overdo it.
Stepping into the store, she waved to Art behind the counter—an older gentleman who had been working there for as long as she could remember. She’d been in her apartment the last seven years, so a long time. Sometimes, he even let her have an extra candy bar for free, saying, “On the house.” With a tender smile, as if he instinctively knew she was having a bad day. Such a kind man.
Now, why couldn’t she date a guy like that? Someone who knew her inside and out without even asking how she was feeling. Just instinctively knew. Closer to her age, of course. Art was too old for her.
Her hand paused grabbing the candy bar, knowing deep in the pit of her stomach she was lying to herself—again. She knew a guy like that. Yet, it didn’t matter.Hedidn’t matter. She could never date him.
Forcing herself to grab only one, she headed toward the counter, smiling at Art as he waggled his brows at her.
“I saw you hesitating. Grab the second one.”
“I have a whole bag of pretzels I plan to devour. One is enough,” she joked back. Although, her fingers itched to grab another. But no. One was enough. She couldn’t eat her sadness away.
She liked to work out. One, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Two, to keep her strength to always be able to protect herself. But if she indulged a little too much, the weight came on like a freight train on high speed.
“On the house…”
She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smile. “Stop tempting me.”
He rang up the candy bar, not even having to tell her the total, which was sad. It showed how often she came in and purchased one. It didn’t matter what excuses she liked to make; she came this way for one reason: to feed her sweet tooth addiction.
“You’re a lifesaver, Art.”
Pressing a hand to his chest, his eyes shimmering with laughter, he said, “Be still my heart, my fair lady.”
Mia rolled her eyes, laughing. “Keep practicing. I bet you’ll make Broadway soon.”
“Only if you’re there to beautify me.”
She winked, grabbing her candy bar. “You’re handsome all on your own.”
Backing up a step, she nearly collided with a small child next to her mother. “So sorry about that. Excuse me.”
The mother smiled at her, then almost simultaneously frowned and pulled her child closer to her.
Confused, yet noticing how the woman shifted her attention, Mia turned toward the entrance and froze.
The man spouting vicious, foul words didn’t frighten her as much as the gun waving in his hand did.
