so few good ones out there.”
The way her love life had gone in the past, Quinn wasn’t sure there were good ones left. None were on her radar. She wasn’t interested in Walt, and regardless of what Stargazer said, he’d probably never call. “Okay, I’m done crying.” She sniffed, pulled a tissue from her pocket, and blotted her eyes. “He’s not worth it. I’ve moved on. At least I’m trying. Y’all go. It’s late. I’ll be fine.”
She looked at Megan. “Go give Charlie those flowers and candy. He deserves them.” Quinn hoped the hint got rid of them. She wanted to be finished crying, but she wasn’t. Not by a long shot.
She watched until Raynie’s tail lights disappeared, and then Quinn got into the shower, cried and screamed, until she had nothing left. Little by little, she was loving him less. Brad was history. Walt was history. And she could tell Stargazer was the type of man who got lots of frosting.
Climbing into bed, she laid the PC across her lap and opened it. She may as well get a few sentences written about her first experience. Rethinking the crazy date helped take her mind off Brad and Blair. Oh God, they even sounded like a couple. She shook the thought away and typed.
Be careful what you wish for.
Online dating sites have over forty million members, and they’re all looking for the same thing. Love. Happily-ever-after. The one who makes their heart beat faster. Their breath come quicker. Their palms sweat. The one who creates magic.
My first date, Wizard, didn’t affect my heart, breathing, or body temperature, but he definitely provided me with magic by producing a bouquet, pulling a coin from behind an ear, releasing a dove, and conjuring up a bunny.
Moral of the story: whatever you wish for, be specific.
I wished for magic and got it—in the air, behind an ear, and up a sleeve.
~~*~~
The next morning, she faced something more nerve-racking than a blind date: her mother. For the past few weeks, she’d spoken to her on the phone, but not in person. When Mom had inquired about Brad, Quinn acted as if they were still together, and everything was fine. The good thing about phone calls, eyes couldn’t reveal the truth.
She had no proof of cheating. It’d been weeks since she’d left him with the most expensive food tab he’d ever had. Plenty of time for him to start a new romance. But in retrospect, the signs were there. She’d just been too stupid to see them—or admit it was possible. The truth took another chunk out of her heart. Tears didn’t help, but she had plenty of reasons to cry. Other than Brad, she was scared Dad’s cancer came back. Terrified she’d never have a family. Days were flying by. If she didn’t fall in love soon, she’d be out of time, because early menopause was on her heels, and she was running like hell to stay ahead of it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Before Quinn made it to her Mom’s she pulled to the side of the road and freshened her makeup to erase signs of crying. She had enough explaining to do without going into how frightened she felt that she’d never make her mother proud. She’d always failed at that.
Quinn parked under the big oak and eyed the neighbor’s tire swing twirling in the breeze. As a child, she’d had one like it, and while she and Megan fought over whose turn it was, Raynie gathered acorns to string for her own special costume jewelry.
The three of them, best friends, but so different. Megan, the smart one. Raynie, the beauty, and Quinn, practical and predictable. She smiled at the memory and wished for Raynie’s Ouija board to predict Mom’s mood. Even if it was good, the news of Brad riding off into the sunset would spoil it.
Over the years, she learned visits went better if they started with a gift. She considered it a peace offering in reverse. She gathered her purse along with the small bag resting on the seat and got out of the car.
The large oaks swayed and the scent of fresh bread permeated
The way her love life had gone in the past, Quinn wasn’t sure there were good ones left. None were on her radar. She wasn’t interested in Walt, and regardless of what Stargazer said, he’d probably never call. “Okay, I’m done crying.” She sniffed, pulled a tissue from her pocket, and blotted her eyes. “He’s not worth it. I’ve moved on. At least I’m trying. Y’all go. It’s late. I’ll be fine.”
She looked at Megan. “Go give Charlie those flowers and candy. He deserves them.” Quinn hoped the hint got rid of them. She wanted to be finished crying, but she wasn’t. Not by a long shot.
She watched until Raynie’s tail lights disappeared, and then Quinn got into the shower, cried and screamed, until she had nothing left. Little by little, she was loving him less. Brad was history. Walt was history. And she could tell Stargazer was the type of man who got lots of frosting.
Climbing into bed, she laid the PC across her lap and opened it. She may as well get a few sentences written about her first experience. Rethinking the crazy date helped take her mind off Brad and Blair. Oh God, they even sounded like a couple. She shook the thought away and typed.
Be careful what you wish for.
Online dating sites have over forty million members, and they’re all looking for the same thing. Love. Happily-ever-after. The one who makes their heart beat faster. Their breath come quicker. Their palms sweat. The one who creates magic.
My first date, Wizard, didn’t affect my heart, breathing, or body temperature, but he definitely provided me with magic by producing a bouquet, pulling a coin from behind an ear, releasing a dove, and conjuring up a bunny.
Moral of the story: whatever you wish for, be specific.
I wished for magic and got it—in the air, behind an ear, and up a sleeve.
~~*~~
The next morning, she faced something more nerve-racking than a blind date: her mother. For the past few weeks, she’d spoken to her on the phone, but not in person. When Mom had inquired about Brad, Quinn acted as if they were still together, and everything was fine. The good thing about phone calls, eyes couldn’t reveal the truth.
She had no proof of cheating. It’d been weeks since she’d left him with the most expensive food tab he’d ever had. Plenty of time for him to start a new romance. But in retrospect, the signs were there. She’d just been too stupid to see them—or admit it was possible. The truth took another chunk out of her heart. Tears didn’t help, but she had plenty of reasons to cry. Other than Brad, she was scared Dad’s cancer came back. Terrified she’d never have a family. Days were flying by. If she didn’t fall in love soon, she’d be out of time, because early menopause was on her heels, and she was running like hell to stay ahead of it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Before Quinn made it to her Mom’s she pulled to the side of the road and freshened her makeup to erase signs of crying. She had enough explaining to do without going into how frightened she felt that she’d never make her mother proud. She’d always failed at that.
Quinn parked under the big oak and eyed the neighbor’s tire swing twirling in the breeze. As a child, she’d had one like it, and while she and Megan fought over whose turn it was, Raynie gathered acorns to string for her own special costume jewelry.
The three of them, best friends, but so different. Megan, the smart one. Raynie, the beauty, and Quinn, practical and predictable. She smiled at the memory and wished for Raynie’s Ouija board to predict Mom’s mood. Even if it was good, the news of Brad riding off into the sunset would spoil it.
Over the years, she learned visits went better if they started with a gift. She considered it a peace offering in reverse. She gathered her purse along with the small bag resting on the seat and got out of the car.
The large oaks swayed and the scent of fresh bread permeated
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