Chapter 5
Marissa’s cell phone rang, and she swiveled in the chair, pulling her messenger bag from the cabinet behind her. The moment she saw the caller’s name, she grinned.
“Hey, Lark,” she answered, resting an elbow on the desktop.
“Hey! Are you busy?”
“Never too busy to talk to you.”
“In that case, what are you doing tomorrow night?” Lark asked.
“I’m not sure how to answer that question,” Marissa hedged. Leaning back in the chair, she crossed her legs and bit off a piece of another Twizzler.
“So, nothing?” her friend asked.
She smiled. “What did you have in mind?”
She and Lark had been best friends for years and both worked for a similar cause. While Marissa helped people looking for love, Lark’s company helped people find their lost loves.
Lark had an outgoing personality and was naturally a social butterfly. Marissa had a similar personality, which was a plus in their industry, but she had a young child at home, which meant she didn’t go out much. Theodore was eight years old and kept her busy. Matter-of-fact, the older her son became, the less she went out. She had become… settled, she supposed.
His father, Chester—or Chet, as everyone called him—lived on the west end of town and Theo spent most weekends at his apartment. She took advantage of those weekends to schedule mixers, work from home, or do something equally unexciting such as have an all-night movie-watching marathon on the sofa.
“I want to check out that new lounge, NV Lounge. Everybody’s been talking about the place. I’m going there tomorrow night with a couple of friends, and you should join us.”
“I don’t know. I need to organize mixers for two clients, plus my to-do list is ten miles long.” Marissa scanned the electronic task list on her computer as she spoke.
“And you’ll take care of most, if not all of that before you go out with me and my friends tomorrow. Come on, it’s been a while since we’ve hung out, and this place will be the perfect location for you to find potential women for your clients. The clientele is made up of twenty and thirty-something professionals. And did I mention everybody is talking about it? Celebrities are coming through there all the time. Two weeks ago, a famous actor was there with his entourage. I forget his name right now, but that’s typical of this place. Who knows who might show up tomorrow night?”
“That’s not enough to convince me to go,” Marissa mumbled.
“Okay, I’m about to pull out the big guns. You need to get out and meet new people, and not only for work-related reasons. There, I said what I said. When was the last time you went on a date?”
“Don’t start,” Marissa said with a groan.
“You haven’t been in a serious relationship since you and Chet broke up eightyears ago. You need to blow the dust off your coochie.”
Marissa busted out laughing. “There’s no dust on my coochie,” she said, her words broken up with laughter.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I know way more about my lady parts than you do, thank you very much.” Marissa continued smiling as she ate the final piece of the candy.
“The last time I heard you talk about a man, you mentioned a coffee date, and you didn’t give the poor bastard much of a chance.”
Marissa used a pen to draw circles on a blank piece of paper. “I did give him a chance. He was boring.”
“No, you didn’t give him a chance, and I hope the reason is not because you’re hung up on your ex.”
“I’m not.”
They’d had this conversation before, but her friend had her doubts, and who could blame her. She knew Chet was the first and only man she had ever slept with. What she didn’t know was that Marissa had slept with Chet three years ago in a moment of weakness, which made him think they still had a chance of being together, while she had simply been horny.
“Then come out with us and have some fun. Open yourself up to the possibility of meeting someone new,” Lark said.
Marissa bit the corner of her bottom lip as she considered the idea. She wouldn’t need a babysitter because Chet was picking up Theo for the weekend, and she didn’t have any mixers planned. “What did you say the name of this place was?”
“NV Lounge.”
“That sounds familiar.” Marissa pulled up the website on her laptop.
The venue had recently opened in an up-and-coming part of town and catered to young Black professionals with disposable income.
“Oh yeah, I recognize this spot. You know what, it’s on my list of places to check out. I guess I could go out with you tomorrow.”
“Yes!” Lark squealed.
Marissa laughed. “Don’t sound so excited. I’ll do some scouting while I’m there, and for the record, I’m not interested in meeting anyone right now. I have a lot going on at work. For instance, I got a new client today. He’s a chef and I have to do all the preliminary work to find him a match.”
“I work too. You can only use that excuse for so long.”
Of course Lark would call her out on her BS. That’s what best friends were for.
“I have other things going on in my life that a man would distract me from.”
“Such as?”
“Buying a house. You know that’s my priority right now.”
Marissa believed in love. She had to, working at a matchmaking service. Though she thought Bruno to be a cynic, he was right—the divorce rate was astronomical. Love was not enough to keep couples together, and most people didn’t seem to want to work through the difficult periods.
“You know I want that for you, and when you buy your place, we’re going to have the biggest, best housewarming party!”
Marissa grinned. She could always count on Lark.
“Last Sunday I went to an open house, and I cried afterward,” she confided.
“Oh no, why?” Lark asked.
“Because it was perfect. Level, fenced back yard. They had fruit trees! A basement, a sweeping two-story foyer—ugh. The house was perfect, Lark. But I shouldn’t have gone in there because it’s out of my price range. I don’t know why I torture myself.” She shook her head in self-disgust.
“There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, to get ready for when you purchase your second house, after the starter.”
“I like how you put a positive spin on my delusion.”
“I know all about dreaming, okay? I inherited my grandmother’s house, and that thing has been draining all my money because of the repairs. But you know what, I love my little shack. Doesn’t stop me from looking at the million dollar homes a few miles away though. So don’t feel bad. We’ll both get what we want one day.”
“You’re right. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming.”
“Now, about tomorrow night…”
“I said I’d come,” Marissa reminded her.
“I know, but I don’t want to twist your arm. If you don’t want to, I’ll understand. It’s just that…” She hesitated.
“Go ahead and say what’s on your mind,” Marissa said.
“All right, fine. You used to be fun! Spontaneous. Remember when we went to see Lizzie in L.A. when she wanted to go into acting? We went just for the hell of it.”
“I remember,” Marissa said with a wistful tone in her voice.
“Now you’re extra… cautious.”
“I can’t be that person anymore. I have a kid now, Lark.”
“You’re not the only single mother in the world.”
“I know, but?—”
“And Chet’s a good dad. You said so yourself.”
Marissa sighed quietly. “Yes, he is. I… I don’t know. I want to be a good parent, you know? I don’t want to be like…” She let the words trail off as her voice thickened.
“Don’t you dare! You are nothing like your mother. You’re nurturing and loving, and Theo is the luckiest kid in the world to have you as a mom.”
Marissa briefly closed her eyes to stem the surge of tears that appeared out of nowhere. “I want to give him the world,” she said thickly.
“And you do. That doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold. You’re allowed to have fun.”
“I know, I know. You’re right. I’m in a rut, and I don’t know how to get out of it.” She fell back against the chair and stared up at the ceiling.
“Let your bestie help. Don’t worry your pretty little head about the details. Dress up. Make sure you look hot tomorrow night. Do you remember how to do that?”
“Yes, I remember, you bitch.”
Lark cackled. “Good. Do your hair, wear something sexy, and let’s have fun. For one night. You’re allowed.”
Marissa pursed her lips and then laughed. “You’re right. What would I do without you?”
“Fall. Apart.”
They both laughed.
“All right, bestie, what time should I meet you tomorrow?” Marissa asked.
They made the arrangements, and after hanging up, Marissa rested her chin on the edge of her palm. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out just for fun.
Tomorrow night would be different, because Lark was right. She used to be spontaneous. She used to be fun. Now she was boring old Marissa.
She looked at the computer screen and warmth filled her chest when she saw Bruno Santana’s profile. With a double-click of one of the icons, his face filled the screen. Black hair, gray eyes, and a penetrating stare that conveyed an air of power. She could well imagine him in the kitchen barking out orders while everyone yelled “Yes, chef!” to his every command.
Marissa closed out his photo and picked up another Twizzler.
She knew why the meeting with him unsettled her and hated to admit the reason. She was attracted to Bruno. Deeply, unequivocally, and drastically attracted. She had been drawn to clients before, but this was different. Stronger. More… visceral.
Definitely a problem.