Justin: Believe me when I tell you it is so much worse in person.
Me: For the record I don’t think your dog’s that ugly.
Justin: I’m disappointed to hear that. Takes some of the thunder out of the name. Do you have any pets?
Me: No. I’m a travel nurse. It would be too hard. But I buy a plant at every new city.
Justin: You take it with you?
Me: No, I can’t. I leave it.
Justin: *gasp* murderer.
I shook my head with a smile.
Me: I leave it with someone. No plants are injured in the pursuit of my career.
Justin: Why a plant? Do u like to garden?
I sat up and crossed my legs under me.
Me: Plants brighten a room. And yes, I like to garden. I move too much for it though.
Justin: So the same thing really happens to you? The good luck charm thing?
Me: It does. So why are reporters trying to figure out your secret identity?
He typed for a minute, and I dabbed on some lip balm while I waited.
Justin: Because everyone wants to know who the guy who can guarantee you a happy ever after is. I don’t think anyone even cared about the rest of the story. The good luck charm part was what made it viral.
Me: I could see that.
Justin: My DMs are off the hook. I had to turn off notifications, it was driving me bonkers. I only answered you because you said the same thing happens to you and I figured you weren’t trying to date me just to break up with me.
I laughed. Again.
I looked at the time. It was late.
Me: I have to go to bed. I have another twelve-hour shift tomorrow.
Justin:
Okay. Nice chatting with you.
I smiled.
Yeah, you too.
CHAPTER 2 JUSTIN
I spotted Brad and Benny at the back of the restaurant and made my way over.
“Finally,” Brad said as I slid into the maroon booth. “You know some of us have limited lunch breaks, dick.”
“Sorry, I had to give Brad his dewormer. I brought some for you too. Faith said you’ve been dragging your ass on the carpet?”
Benny snorted and Brad tried to keep his face serious, but he couldn’t.
My best friend was in a Hawaiian shirt and pink cargo shorts. He was a general manager at Trader Joe’s. I missed not having to go to the grocery store now that he had moved out. Actually, I missed a lot of things now that Brad had moved out. Like having another human to talk to, even if it was this one.
I plucked a mozzarella stick off the appetizer platter they’d ordered and dipped it in marinara. “What’s good here?”
“The wings,” Brad said.
“How did I know you were going to say that?”
Brad got wings at every restaurant we went to, without fail. He’d get wings at a sushi place if they had them.
Benny nodded at the menu. “The burgers are good. They make their own buns.”
“Oh cool,” I said, taking off my jacket. “How’s Jane?”
“Good. She says hi.”
Brad put an arm over the back of the booth. “Yeah, Faith says hi too. And to rename your fucking dog.”
“Nope.” I made a popping noise on the P while I grabbed the menu. “It’s viral. I can’t back down now, where would my principles be?”
“That Reddit thing’s still going?” Benny asked.
