Lu

seen my fair s

t only is she the prettiest thing I've seen,

me isn't Maggie?" I ask,

e replie

to give me something

look. I can't lie, wherever he

der. "I'm not hitting on you. Honestly, I'm ta

d a stranger to dodge another woman you've clearly wronged, and yo

at the burn. That's her second shot in less tha

uggest, offering her a

aught that. Your 'problematic'

ot my ex

ate

Not even five minutes in and she's already pegge

o tell me your name?

some big-shot businessman. Those Louboutins, the Rolls-Royce keys sitting on the bar, and th

"But you look like you could use someone to talk to. Since you

pression unreadable, before finally

, Julie," I say,

take

~

ble, pouring out her life story like we've known each other for years. I

he bitch says?" Julie doesn't wait for me to reply. "She says I need to move out of my room. My

do you comfort someone else's

say. "Are

head. "I need

you d

e my life? You can all go to hell. I said I need a drink." She taps her empty g

, and I can't let you

own the bar? Good for yo

tand, but I st

g, but this isn't the way to go abou

k onto the barstool. "I can't. I don't want to be a dis

m. It's your life. No one sho

mile. "Easy for you to

ve the person. She's saying it's because of her family, but I can tell it's more than that. She's not ready to le

suggest that wouldn't involve me phys

t?" I say. "You need to get yourself a b

looks at me like

that they can't stand being cheated on. It'll drive him crazy. I'm hoping

," I add. "Just hire someone to play that

er head. "That's actually not bad," she says, surprisi

h. "We

I supposed to find

g, I blurt out,

ver me again, slow

the right guy, making sure he knows what he's doing. I'm single, not looking f

ptions. After a moment, she sa

ebrow, but sh

her phone. "So, how much

on't need it, but if I offer to d

willing to pay?" I

to appraise the place. Her diamond ring catches

"What does it make? Two hundr

ay s

ble that,

yebrow. "The

ive hu

But I'll only take the mo

ds her ha

. I then pull out a pen and scribble my numb

last look before heading out of the bar. I'm right

you can dr

that hi

I say. "Giv

off into

e. But what else could I do? I head back into the b