Page 72 of The Lucky List
“Fair enough.” I offer her a watery smile.
She tosses her hair over her shoulder. “I’ve learned how tosqueeze the lemons life has thrown at me. And it took a lot of practice, but I’ve finally made some damn good lemonade. Are you catching what I’m throwing down?”
“We make our own luck. And lemonade.”
“Exactly. Now that you know what you want, go after it. Don’t let little obstacles get in your way.”
“It’s not exactly a little obstacle,” I say, gently reminding her.
“True. I didn’t mean to imply that. But I honestly think it won’t be as big a deal as you’re making it in your head. Not that your feelings aren’t valid, because they are. Jesus, Bella, just stop while you’re ahead.” She smacks her forehead, shaking her head.
“I know what you mean, and I know your heart. You never have to explain your ramblings to me, friend.”
She smiles back at me, and my brain slowly starts to quiet, my nerves easing slightly.
I chew on my lip, trying to dispel the rest of the chaos of my anxious thoughts. “The last time I let someone in, he didn’t want kids, and I did. And thanks to my shitty luck, now I don’t want more kids, and Mike does, and my heart’s involved. I’ve never felt this way before. And the fact that I’m scared of what he might say, how he will react, and terrified that he could walk away, it’s too much. I don’t know how to process it.”
“I know I don’t have all the answers, and I know you may not believe me, but I truly think you’re it for him. There’s something whispering in my ear, like a little leprechaun, telling me you should chase your rainbow to find your happy ending.” Her face lights up like she’s just had a revelation. “Two little leprechauns I don’t think he’d ever walk away from. And I’m pretty sure he’s fond of your pot of gold.” She winks at me like she’s proud of her terrible joke.
“That was bad. Like really bad.” I try my best to say thatwith a straight face, but when Bella sticks her tongue out at me, I snicker.
“I think those boys are your lucky charms. And you made them, so technically you did make your own luck.”
“I am pretty lucky to be their mom, even if they do drive me batshit crazy sometimes.”
“Amen to that. Now go tell your hot firefighter how you feel.”
CHAPTER 20
LUCY
Once Bella leaves, I clean the kitchen, hoping to dispel my nervous energy. The sounds of farts and laughter filter down the stairs. Is this what it’s like to have help? One of us corralling the kids while the other cleans up behind them? It’s oddly domestic, and the idea of having more of this and maybe making it a permanent thing one day fills me with peace.
I let out a long exhale as the house quiets, and I hear Mike sneak down the stairs.
“Sorry to just show up tonight. Bella and I didn’t plan that, I swear.”
In all the chaos, I just realized he never said why he was here; only Bella had mentioned her reason for stopping by. “I’m glad you came. Do you want to stay and have a glass of wine? Maybe watch an episode ofBluey?”
“Please don’t tell me you think the Heelers are doing it?”
I laugh. “They absolutely are, but I also think that Bandit and Chili run an international crime ring. Oh, and Chili totally reads spicy books.”
“I saw the theory about the book.”
“You did?” I sit on the couch, and he joins me.
“Aye, came across my social media feed when I was doom-scrolling one night. My phone must be listening to us talking about cartoons fucking.”
“It was one conversation.” I roll my eyes and playfully shove him. “But I do think they are smuggling artifacts. Think about it, he’s an archeologist uncovering treasures, and she works in airport security. It’s the perfect cover!”
“Or they’re just dogs doing jobs that real-life dogs might do, you know, digging for bones or sniffing for bombs at an airport.”
“I think my theory is more fun.” I pout, sticking out my lower lip, and Mike leans over capturing it between his teeth, nipping on it, and then kissing me roughly.
When he pulls back seconds later, I’m breathless. “What was that for?”
“You can’t stick that plump little lip out and not expect me to devour it, a chroí.”
