A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,63
Arie asked.
“Nope. Nothing really makes sense about the tattoo.” Winter scowled and shook her head. “And my mom still won’t tell me its meaning.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know,” I offered. “I mean, I’m not sure anyone could possibly figure that one out.”
“In college, he was ski patrol, but it still doesn’t explain the anchor and roses.” She rolled her eyes. “But he does like boats.”
“At least we can laugh about it now,” I offered, and Winter agreed.
“Crazy how things, when you’re young, can stay with a person.” Arie pursed her lips together, and I glanced at Samantha.
“So, what are you two saying? That Winter should go find a guy who cooks and has a house on the beach with a boat docked out front?” I asked, and Arie laughed.
“And has tattoos?” Arie chuckled.
“Just to clear things up, I have slept with men with tattoos. I just knew I’d never marry one.” Winter grinned and looked over at the bartender.
I held up my hands and laughed. “Believe me, we had no doubt there. Seriously, though. Why dig this up? What’s the point?”
“The point is that whether Winter knows it or not, she’s limiting herself. She’s cutting herself off from love, all because of a horrible incident back in high school.” Samantha cocked her head slightly. “And I think it’s about time we start letting ourselves go in the direction where love might actually be hidden.”
“You mean hidden in plain sight?” Arie asked, and I scowled.
“Don’t tell me you’re falling for it too?” I asked. “You didn’t even write anything down.”
Arie laughed and took a sip of her drink. “Because I’m the smart one.”
“Essentially, Winter has subconsciously vowed to date slackers for the rest of her life so she doesn’t wind up with someone successful because in her mind, she equates success with men who cheat, lie, and abandon people they should care about. But as we all know, that’s not true. Successful men aren’t all like that. There are plenty of slackers who do the same thing.” Samantha caught her breath. “I’m saying it’s high time Winter raises the bar. Maybe even date a lawyer, an entrepreneur, or actually anyone with a steady job, really.”
“Well, that’s just crazy talk.” I chuckled.
“It kind of is.” Winter smiled and glanced at the bartender. “Do you realize I’ve never been in a relationship where I didn’t have to support the other person?’
“Why, yes.” I nodded. “I think it’s something we’ve all noticed and mentioned over the years.”
“So, what about you?’ Winter asked, and I froze.
I didn’t actually have to look at the paper to know what I wrote or whom I wrote it about, but I certainly wasn’t going to reveal that bit of info or I’d fall entirely into their plan.
I took a deep breath and read the words aloud, “I hereby swear I will never marry a man named McKenzie.” I sucked in a breath. “I vow to never marry a bad boy or a rebel.”
Arie’s eyes widened. “You wrote yours about the McKenzie boys? The brothers?”
“One brother,” Samantha corrected.
She obviously remembered too.
Darn it.
“I only knew one.” I folded my paper back up and prepared my best lying expression. “I don’t even remember his first name.”
Another lie. The thought of Morgan McKenzie still turned my insides into a wild roller coaster ride of forbidden teenage lust.
“Okay, so let’s see.” Arie sucked on her bottom lip and nodded slowly. “I think Winter and Samantha might be onto something because you have an awful problem of dating only preppy boys, and I mean boys when I say it. I don’t think you’ve ever dated a real man.”
“I do tend to date very clean-cut men with—”
“An appreciation for matching sweaters and socks, loafers, and a ton of letters and numbers after their name,” Winter interrupted me with no sign of slowing. “I mean, think about your ex-fiancé.”
“Do I have to?” I teased.
“He looked like he stepped out of an eighties frat house complete with plaid sweaters and too much cologne doused on him.”
“Well, I wouldn’t pick him now, which was why I wasn’t heartbroken when he left Fireweed to pursue his career.”
“As a school teacher,” Winter added. “On the fast track to an administration role. Wasn’t that what he’d announced to us all at the last dinner we’d had at your house?”
I’d put that night out of my head almost as soon as it had happened. My ex had already grown distant and had absolutely zero thought about anyone but himself. He didn’t care that I’d