Page 46 of For One Night

Reese switches seats with Thayer, smiling at me. “How are you doin’?”

“Good, I think.” I sip my drink. “I’ve gotten a couple of jobs the last six weeks, made some money, made my license, and I got an apartment.”

She frowns. “I may sound rude, but why didn’t you have a license?”

“I never took the time in high school, we moved a lot for the military and Carter didn’t want me to have one.” I shrug.

“Well, good riddance. The rest is epic.” Her face lights up. “You deserve it.”

“Well, I’m still waiting on that one big job. You know, to cement me and prove what I can do.”

Lea leans forward. “What’s your job, exactly?”

“I’m a business management analyst.” I debate if I should explain. “I go in, analyze the business, come up with a plan to help the CEO or whomever to make the place run more efficient.”

“She’s a fixer,”—Millie bumps my shoulder—“and she’s amazing. Worth every penny.”

Lea holds her glass up to Millie. “Spoken like a true friend. I’ll keep you in mind. Do you have a business card?”

“Thank you.” I reach into my purse and slide a card across the table. “Here you are.”

Thayer waves her fingers at me. “Give me … actually, pass them around.”

“Thank you so much.” I do as she asks, happily.

Reese sits back. “We need to have a cookout, invite you over to meet everyone else.”

“I would love that.” I settle in, feeling more at home.

She reaches for her phone. “Can y’all do next weekend?”

“I’m taking her on a ‘I just got divorced, and I need to get laid’ weekend to Vegas.” Millie grins like a rat eating cheese.

I shake my head. “I’ve never seen anyone so interested in getting someone laid in my life.”

“The week after you get laid then, it’s a plan!” Thayer yells to everyone as they cheer and root me on.

“Come back with pictures and walking like you’ve rode a horse all weekend.” Ava holds her glass up in a toast.

“It’s Vegas.” I waggle my brows. “What happens there, stays there.”

The table of amazing women laugh with me, and I begin to realize I’ll never be alone again. It’s something I’ve never had before, and I’ll not have to do without again.

“Can we tag along?” Willow, one of the younger girl’s asks. “It’s spring break, and we have nothing to do.”

I turn to Millie, who smiles. “What’s that saying, ‘the more, the merrier’?”

“Are you sure?” Lea looks from me to Millie.

“We don’t mind. Once we get flights and rooms figured out, we can text you.”

Everyone begins to snicker when Lea smiles wide. “You don’t need flights.”

My eyes flutter around the large table. “Why not?”

“You can take my plane since my girls are going.”

Millie’s brow cocks as I glance at her and then to Lea and the girls. “Hang on…”