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“Yes, I almost forgot. Guess what happened after work the other day?” I take a long sip of my drink.
“Hmm. You touched a gravestone and got transported a hundred years into the future?”
“Yep, and guess what? Only decaf coffee in the future.”
Kora gasps. “That would be the downfall of humanity.” Then she shakes her head at me. “Look at you, you truly know your audience. But really, what happened?”
I tell her, starting with the odd meeting I had with the elderly woman and ending with my car breaking down and the stranger who insisted on waiting with me for the tow truck.
“So how hot are we talking?”
“After everything I just told you, that’s your first question?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Like, really hot? Swoon-worthy hot. Too bad I completely embarrassed myself.”
“And you didn’t exchange phone numbers or anything?” She slams her palm against her forehead in disbelief.
I shake my head. It didn’t even occur to me at the time. “I don’t think I’m his type anyway.”
“Oh, please,” Kora says. “Don’t do the whole ‘I’m not pretty enough’ thing.”
I glare at her. “I never said I wasn’t pretty enough, thank you very much. I said I don’t think I’m his type!”
“You’re everyone’s type.”
“He seemed like the kind of guy who’d like the cool, edgy chicks, you know? Besides, he said he doesn’t live here anymore.”
“Have you never heard that opposites attract? And him just visiting is ideal. You can safely hook up and you can’t catch feelings. Win-win.”
Kora is big on not catching feelings. She’ll date a guy for a few weeks, and then she moves on to the next. In her opinion, no man is worth sticking around for after the honeymoon phase ends. But I’m not like that. I don’t enjoy casual dating, and I don’t think that will ever change. The irony is that I also don’t trust anyone enough for anything serious.
Before she can continue pressing me, the trivia host says it’s time to announce the winners.
“Oh my God, we better win something.” She smacks my arm.
When we win third place, Kora beams at the vouchers we receive.
“Free drinks,” she says happily. She continues to chatter, but I’ve stopped listening, because I spot Hayden a few feet away.
He’s leaning against the bar, a beer in his hand, and he looks bored as a pretty brunette tries to talk to him. I stare for a few seconds.
What are the fucking odds?
“Oh shit,” I mumble, and I quickly look away. He clearly hasn’t noticed me yet, and I don’t want him to.
“What is it?” Kora seems worried.
“He’s here. The guy from yesterday. The hot guy? Why is my life a fucking joke? Can we leave?”
Kora squeals. “Robin, if you don’t point him out to me right this second, I will punch you.”
“Alright, calm down. Don’t be obvious, but he’s by the bar, and he’s wearing a black shirt. There’s a brunette with a ponytail talking to him.”
Kora whirls around, and I can tell the exact moment she sees him. Her face drops. “Hayden is the guy who helped you?”
“Please tell me he’s not an ex of yours or something?”