Free A Twist of Date by Susan Hatler Page B

isn’t profitable for the business. I hope you understand.”
    Oh, I understood plenty. When it came to men, I had zero intuition. The guy I was about to start dating had just nixed half my income.
    I uncrossed my legs and rose from my chair, my legs wobbling as I stood.  How would I make rent? “When does the new schedule come out?”
    “On Monday, but it won’t take effect for a week.”
    “Okay.” I squeezed the plastic bag and turned to the door, anxious to hurry home and throw myself under the covers. 
    “Wait a sec,” he said, holding a hand in the air. 
    I blinked, wondering how this morning could possibly get any worse. 
    “I tried to reach you last night, but didn’t hear back from you. Are you still up for heading to that club you know tonight?”
    It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I’d set the whole thing in play. The least I could do was take the guy dancing. “Sure.” 
    “Great.” He bent toward desk, slid a pad to the center and scribbled down a phone number. “How about you give me a call and let me know the address of the club so I can meet you?”
    “All right.” I accepted the paper and our fingers touching in the exchange, but all I felt was irritation. Matt wouldn’t have met me there. Just like Matt wouldn’t have cheated on me the way Paul had. Matt would have picked me up like the gentleman he was.
    He would have been faithful.
    He would have made life yumzy.
    ****
    My phone chirped as I walked out of Nick’s office and I leaned against the wall to take Kaitlin’s fifth call of the day. “Hello?”
    “Hi, sis! I just wanted to let you know that Dreamy Delights was able to move the cake tasting to seven-thirty. They’re staying open late just for me. I kind of had to talk them into it.”
    I put a hand to my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “Okay, but just the cake tasting, Kaitlin. No dinner. I’m supposed to go dancing with—”
    “Did you say dancing after?” Kaitlin squealed. “Is this, like, a surprise bachelorette party? Should I invite friends?”
    Bachelorette party? Oh, no way. “What? Wait—”
    “Oh, Mel! You’re the best maid of honor ever. I mean it. The best ever!”
    “Kaitlin—”
    “Gotta run and buy a new outfit. Something that’ll match a veil. Don’t get one that’s too long. And please, no tacky penises pinned to it. I’m so excited. Thanks.”
    “Wait!” I yelled, but the perky voice had disconnected. I hit redial twice to get Kaitlin back but got sent directly to voicemail each time. No doubt Kaitlin was on the line with her sorority sisters already, telling them about the perfect bachelorette party I now had to throw.  “Argh!”
    Suddenly, a handsome face stepped in front of me. “Tough morning?”
    “Yumzy.” My face heated. “I mean, Matt. What are you doing back here?”
    “It’s my last day, and I have to fill out some paperwork in Nick’s office.” He touched my arm. “What were you yelling about?”
    “Sorry.” My heart pounded and I told myself it was panic over Kaitlin’s bachelorette party, not because had put his hand on me. “It’s my stepsister. Being her maid of honor is going to put me into cardiac arrest.”
    He nodded sympathetically. “Sounds stressful.”
    “You have no idea.” I laughed, then realized we were having a normal conversation. His hand was also still holding my forearm. “She’s getting married in a month, and apparently I’m throwing her a bachelorette party tonight even though I’m supposed to be going to The Oasis with Nick.”
    Matt frowned, and his hand dropped. “You’re going dancing with Nick?”
    “Yes.” I bit my lip, confused at what I wanted, and even more confused about what Matt wanted. “And, it seems we’ll be accompanied by a hoard of sorority girls. Wanna come?”

 
    Chapter Nine
    After consuming way too many calories on overpriced wedding cake, I arrived at The Oasis. Nick met me at the entrance and we spent a total of two minutes