An Excerpt From Cupid Grants a Second Chance
The Ship and Anchor was packed, but it didn’t take Nate long to find the manager and scope out the stage setup and sound equipment. As he turned to leave, he spotted Lexy all by herself in the back corner. A quick scan showed no sign of her usual sidekicks. Something on the table had her complete attention. Which was strange, because The Ship didn’t seem like the type of place Lexy would hunker down and do some work. She was scribbling something on a napkin and didn’t look up until he spoke.
“‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world’.”
She looked up with a smile. “‘And he walked into mine.’ Though I’m surprised to hear you quoting Casablanca.”
“I was outnumbered by women growing up. Is it?” At her blank look, he clarified. “Your gin joint?”
“On occasion. I happen to be drinking gin tonight.” She lifted her glass and gave it a little wiggle. “Isn’t this technically more your gin joint? Your neighborhood?”
“It is my ‘hood, but this is my first time in. We’ve got a gig here this weekend and I came to check out the set up. What about you?” he said as he sat down. “Are you meeting someone? You’re looking very studious for being in a pub.”
“Jules and Ren wanted to come out tonight, then they ditched me after one drink.”
“So they left and you decided to set up office? What’s going on with the napkins?” He glanced over and tried to read the notes she had scrawled on them. Did that say Eminem?
“Nothing,” she said quickly as she gathered them up, hiding her scribbles from his sight. “How did Marcie like her gift?”
Hiding her notes and changing the topic only piqued his curiosity more. “She loved it.”
“Best Big Brother Award in the bag yet again?”
“Thanks to you.” He leaned back in his seat, at ease. “Since we’re both here, want to grab a bite? Maybe I’ve got some expertise you could use,” he said, with a pointed look at the napkins she was still trying to hide.
“Sure. I didn’t realize how late it was getting.”
They scanned the plastic-covered menus, standard bar fare with a few additions like roasted cauliflower wings and deep-fried pickles. When their server stopped by, they both ordered burgers along with a beer for him.
He gave her a teasing look. “Menu decision, just like that? No consulting the server?”
“You might have noticed I got half fries and half salad.”
He laughed. “Another technique for the indecisive.” After a beat he asked “What’s up with your napkin notes? Are you writing a secret novel or something?”
“I don’t want to say,” she said. “I don’t want to jinx it.”
“You think telling me will jinx it?”
“Can’t chance it.”
“Did you tell Jules and Ren?”
“Had to. They were here when I got the idea.”
“So, you’ve either already jinxed it, and telling me won’t matter. Or telling them didn’t jinx it, so it’s safe to tell me.” He could see she was weighing this logic as their burgers arrived.
“I promise not to steal your idea, no matter how good it is,” he said, as they both nibbled on a fry. “And I won’t tell anyone about it either. Pinkie swear.”
“Pinkie swear? What are you, five?”
He propped his elbow on the table, pinkie finger aimed in her direction. “I will have you know that a pinkie swear is a solemn oath, and I haven’t broken a single one since childhood.”
She looked across at him with skepticism, then relented, grinning as she reached over their burgers to hook her pinkie to his.
