Amanda Jason: Lucky Number Four

Damn. So Colin’s heart has been broken too. Just another reason to tell my heart to stop it.

I have no desire taking on someone else with a broken heart. When it came time for Harriet to leave, we had already bonded so well, and it felt wonderful when she hugged me and told me I was what these boys needed in their lives.

Confession time: I haven’t told my family about my move yet. In fact, I swore Julie and Kevin to secrecy when we all went for Sunday dinner with the fam, which is quite the story within itself. No time to tell now. I’m enjoying my last day of being by myself in this mansion in the sky. Poetic, aren’t I?

Saturday morning comes too quickly. Today, the ‘three’ are supposed to return, and I plan on making myself scarce. First work, and then the afternoon in the library, and finally dinner at Kevin and Julie’s with a night filled with movie watching.

Work is as hectic as usual on a weekend morning, and the library is a refreshing calm after the thundering storm. Sitting at my laptop, I feel someone staring at me. No, I’m not psychic. I see a face in my screen as my computer turns off. Closing it up, I turn to see the face more clearly, and the object of my attention smiles.

Good lord, it’s Drew. What the hell is he doing in the library? From what I can tell, he’s causing a scene as I look to my left and right and see women, girls, and even some guys staring as if they’re seeing a movie star. Well, he’s not in the movies yet, but I guess you could say he’s famous. He’s in every effing magazine and on almost every billboard in the world.

Pushing my laptop in my backpack, I grab it, and slowly rise from my seat. I watch as he gets from his, still grinning like a smexy idiot. Yes, I said smexy . Well, he is, but boy does he know it. He starts forward and I move quickly to the exit, walking as fast as I can in a library. I swear I can feel his breath on the back of my neck, but I keep going. Pushing open the door, I’m temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight. I look way up at a frowning Drew after he gently takes hold of my arm and spins me around.

“What’s your hurry?” he asks, finally cracking a smile.

“Oh, hi, Drew. I didn’t see you. What are you doing here?” I ask as innocently as I can.

“Yeah, sure. You looked right at me. How could you have missed me?” he asks, pointing to himself.

“Well, I did. But you didn’t answer me.”

“I’ve come to pick you up,” he says. His killer-watt smile makes a girl walking by trip over her own feet at the mere sight of it.

“What makes you think I need picking up? I have plans.”

“Well, if your plans are with Julie and Kevin, I guess things have changed.” He loses the smile and tries to look serious. “The guys and I chipped in to give them a present for their wedding. Kevin and Julie are going out for a night on the town. You know, limo, dinner, and a sold-out play that tickets magically appeared for. I guess you’re stuck with us.”

We keep walking toward the parking lot and guess what? Standing by a huge luxury car are Liam and Colin, the rest of the “us” Drew was referring to, and they don’t look too happy.

“So you knew where she was the whole time … yet you sent us on a wild goose chase anyway?” Liam’s dry voice matches his stern look.

“Like you two could’ve convinced Dora to hang out with us? This plan needed my touch,” Drew says with confidence.

“I never said I was going to hang out with you,” I announce as I stare at Drew, trying to make him feel uncomfortable. It doesn’t work. He just grins at me.

Infuriating.

“Now, Pandora Phillips, how can you pass up an evening with us? Okay, so Liam may not be as friendly as Colin and me, but give him a few drinks and he loosens up.”

As I look at the two grinning faces of Drew and Colin, my mind begins to betray me. I glance at Liam and even he’s wearing a half smirk. My mind makes its choice for me, and I decide I’m stuck. I need to eat, right? And my two so-called friends have dumped me for a better gig, which I don’t blame them for, but still.

“Okay, I’ll hang with you guys, but I make all the decisions, okay? That’s the deal, so take it or leave it,” I cross my arms and wait for their negative replies.

“Okay,” Drew quickly agrees.

“Sure,” Colin readily says.

Liam nods.

We pile into the car, and I get stuck in the front next to Drew, who’s driving. “All right, so we’re going to my favorite eatery,” I say and then quickly rattle of the directions while Drew pulls into traffic.

I love the looks on their faces as we enter a part of the city I’m sure they’ve never stepped foot in. I point to an empty parking spot a block away from our destination. Drew looks a little nervous about leaving his car, but he locks it and we make our way down the darkening street. A few streetlights pop on, but most seemed to be burned out. We turn a corner and there it is—Papa’s. Its warm glow from within lights up the pavement in front. Opening the door, a flurry of delicious smells hit us and my stomach rumbles, reminding me that breakfast was a zillion hours ago.

“Pandora Phillips, my little angel! Such a gloriosa day this is, gracing us with your beautiful presence.” Papa’s voice makes me giggle, something I do every time I hear his cheesy line.

Papa is a big man, not tall, but round. He reminds me of that famous chef on the cans of spaghetti I ate as a child. He wears a huge apron and a tall chef’s hat. His Italian accent completes the image. He strides forward and embraces me, swallowing me up in his arms.

“Where have youa been my naughty girl? We haven’ta seen you ina months! Where is thata young man of yours?” I see him peering over my head, looking for the SOB.

“Papa, he’s history,” I say flatly.

“Good, bella, good! Never liked him. You are a princessa and deserve a prince.” He finally lets me go and I turn to introduce him to my escorts.

“Papa, I want you to meet three new friends of mine.” I see the three smiling widely at my statement. I’m shocked that even Liam’s smile looks genuine. After the introductions, Papa sternly looks them up and down.

He puts his arm around me and glares at them. “This is youra only warninga, one not lightly made. Any of you breaka my Pandora’s heart, it will be your lasta day on Earth. In fact, her lasta one is now on my hit list. I have connections, if you know what I mean.” All three nod their heads, which is pretty funny as they tower over the short rotund man.

“No, Papa,” I say. “We’re just friends, and as for the other one, he’s not worth your anger. I’m so over him.”

“Okay. So I will let it go, just because we lovea you. Now, Giuseppe, get the special table ready. These people are hungry.”

Giuseppe is Papa’s nephew, and I’ve always thought he should be a model. His dark, Italian looks are one of the reasons I’ve had a major crush on him forever. He comes up to me, bends over and kisses my hand, and my heart flips as usual. Yes, I know my heart flips at the attention of beautiful men, except for Liam, which I will have to analyze further. Giuseppe then takes my hand and leads us to the best table by the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the three “Modelteers” frowning at the gesture. So much testosterone in one space. Awesome .

Dinner, to my surprise, turns out to be a wonderful affair. The food is delicious as always, and the company keeps me laughing with the tales of the life of a male model. Even Liam chimes in, telling us of his photo shoot with an amorous kangaroo. I haven’t laughed this much in years. I suddenly feel so comfortable with these guys.