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“I went to Houston to spend New Year’s Eve with her, and she insisted that we get dressed up and go to this fancy party. I met Martin there, we clicked, then I woke up the next morning and started thinkin’ he was married with kids. I left while he was asleep, and today’s the first time I’ve seen him since.”

I held up my hand again. “I will not be accepting any other questions at this time, and if any of you show up at LJ’s to spy on me, I’ll knee you in the balls so hard you’ll be coughing them up outta your mouth. Got it?”

They all looked a little green, probably because they knew I’d do it.

“See y’all tomorrow.”

Martin was waiting for me on the sidewalk when I pulled up at LJ’s. It was a great little dive bar where we often stopped by for a drink when we got off shift. Martin held the door for me and I walked in, calling out a greeting to Chrissy, one of the servers here.

She hustled over, her curious eyes taking in Martin’s suit and neatly combed hair. This was strictly a blue-collar establishment, and they didn’t get a lot of fancy looking guys in here. I’d never seen any of the suits from factory administration in here, other than David every now and again.

“Hi there, I’m Chrissy. What can I getcha?”

Martin nodded for me to go first.

“I’ll have a bottle of Lone Star, Chrissy.”

“I’ll have the same,” Martin said.

“You want a basket of fries?” Chrissy asked.

I smiled. My love of fried potatoes was well-known. “Yep, you know I do. Thanks.”

We sat quietly until Chrissy brought our beers, then Martin spoke up.

“I was really bummed when I woke up and found you gone, Lil.”

I ignored his shortening of my name even though it was kind of sweet.

“It was a one-night stand, we both knew the score going in,” I reminded him. “Even if I hadn’t discovered what I discovered, it’s not like I was gonna move in with you and live happily ever after.”

“Why not?”

I looked at him like he was nuts.

“Because that wasn’t really me, Martin. The make-up, the fancy hair, the cute little dress. This is the real me.”

I waved my hand up and down in front of myself.

“My shoes have steel toes, my hair’s a mess, my jeans are older than at least one of my kids, I’m wearing a sports bra because they’re more comfortable for work, and I smell vaguely of machine oil. The Lillian you danced with at midnight doesn’t exist in real life. She’s a fantasy.”

“I don’t want a fantasy. I want you.”

Martin

Lillian was looking at me like I was crazy. I needed to downshift this conversation before she ran away screaming.

“All I’m saying is, we had fun together, and we have a connection that doesn’t come around every day. How about we date? We’ll go out a few times and get to know each other better. Maybe even have more of that incredibly hot and wild sex we had on New Year’s.”

An older guy in khakis and a sweater walked by at that exact minute, his head snapping around so fast to look at Lillian. I was surprised he didn’t break his neck.

“Hey Mr. Williams.”

She rolled her eyes at me as the man ambled away.

“That was my high school algebra teacher. I can guarantee you that I’ll be getting a message from my mother asking who you are within the hour.”

“Wow, small town life, huh?”