Read My Lucky Days: A Novel for Free Online Page B

table, eating in silence. Being alone. I’d learned to handle it over the years. Not that it was ever really easy. But I knew how to function.
    After finishing my sandwich, I washed the plate off in the sink. I really needed to do homework, but I was pretty tired. Going into my bedroom, I got my box of candles and brought them to the living room. I placed the little glass jars in precise rows across the coffee table. Lighting each wick, I watched the flames take hold and the wax gradually melt. I sucked in a deep breath. Nothing was more relaxing than the scent of lavender and vanilla.
    Old habits were difficult to give up.
    I liked candles. Something simple that could be purchased in any town or city that gave a familiar smell to a new place.
    I wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, flipping through daytime talk shows before stopping on the local news. I wanted to see how cold it would be next week.
    About an hour later, I heard my phone ding in my bedroom. Climbing out of my cozy cocoon, I retrieved it from my nightstand. I walked back into the living room, staring at the screen. Lucky. The sweet thrill of anticipation shot through me as I opened the message.
    L UCKY: It’s after 12. You awake?
    M E: Yes.
    L UCKY: Good. Just saying hi.
    I smiled, picturing that grin on his face.
    M E: Hi?
    L UCKY: Working tonight. Won’t be able to call until late. Or maybe tomorrow.
    M E: Okay.
    L UCKY: I didn’t want to forfeit my kiss by you thinking I wasn’t going to call.
    I laughed out loud.
    M E: No worries. You still have 1 credit.
    L UCKY: Good because I’m planning on using it.
    That time, I didn’t laugh. The warm flutters filled my chest.
    M E: Stop flirting and get back to work.
    L UCKY: For the record, I can text and use a saw at the same time. But Colt said no. I might lose a finger.
    M E: THEN STOP TEXTING ME
    L UCKY: Fine. But I’m still thinking about kissing you.
    I laughed again. He was impossible. Curling up under a blanket, I flipped through the channels, soaking up the smell of lavender. And I found myself thinking about kissing him too.
    Peyton stumbled through the door a few minutes later. “Why the hell am I in this class again?”
    I smiled, seeing the traumatic look on her face. “Because you want to graduate.”
    “ Ugh. ” She fell on the couch next to me. “Graduating is overrated if it requires crap like this.”
    “You do realize that once you graduate, you’ll have to get up even earlier every day.”
    “No. I’m not taking a job like that. I’ll find a different one. Like where I work ten to two.”
    I laughed. “Good luck with that one.”
    “Or a rich guy. Then I won’t have to work at all. I’ll be a real housewife of some place fancy like Miami or Malibu. I can sleep until noon and have a butler named Harold who brings me breakfast in bed before I meet the other rich wives at the country club and we talk about how much money we have while drinking cocktails in fancy dresses.”
    “I hope that works out for you.” I rolled my eyes, knowing she was dead serious about the idea. She was a complete mess sometimes.
    Peyton pulled part of the large blanket off me to cover herself up. “I love it when you have a lavender séance. So cozy.” She twisted around, getting situated. “So tell me about last night. I’m getting excited just thinking about him again. He was hot. Like normal-guy hot. But damn. Seeing him on stage. He’s like sexy hot. So tell me. I want details.”
    “Well, we ate dinner. He’s funny. Made me laugh a lot. And he flirts. Like a lot . But it’s not in a bad way. He’s actually pretty sweet. He called me last night after he dropped me off. Sang to me on the phone.”
    “What? You’re kidding, right?”
    “Not kidding.”
    Peyton grabbed me in a hug, shaking both of us around with her excitement. “This is freaking awesome. Now does he have any friends because I want a sexy country singer too.” She fell back against the couch. “One who sings me sexy