Page 6 of The Romance Adventure

I snap my fingers. “Just like that because it’s the movies, unlike real life.” Then again, I haven’t been able to forget about those pewter eyes.

“You don’t believe in love at first sight?” Allie asks.

After my recent breakup, I’m struggling to believe in love at all. “Well, the smoothie went flying everywhere and there was eye contact, but not of the love-at-first-sight variety. More like he ran away as fast as he could at first sight.”

Gina and I help clean up. I thank Allie for not issuing a permanent ban on my entering the Smoothery.

When Gina and I get outside—the only place I’ll trust myself to consume liquids from now on—she and I clink cups.

“To memorable moments,” Gina says.

“Memorable moments that are a reminder to hold fast to my New Year’s resolutions.”

We’re about to leave when Allie rushes after me, waving some napkins.

She says, “Almost forgot. I’d been hoping to see you so I could give you these.” Allie passes me napkins and a few pieces of paper covered with ink—names and numbers, it looks like.

“No less than six guys wanted me to give you these.” She waggles her eyebrows.

My forehead ripples with confusion.

“I could’ve given them your contact info, but I don’t think they wanted murals painted, if you know what I mean.”

Gina giggles and elbows me. “They were hitting you up. I take it you didn’t paint that piece up there after hours.”

“Nope. We’re open seven days a week from seven until nine, so that would’ve made for a very late night,” Allie says.

I wave my hands. “No, no, thank you. I recently got out of a relationship.” And by that, I mean I just barely escaped. “Also, the meet mess was an apt representation of the current state of my life.”

“Well, I’ll hang onto them for safekeeping.” Gina winks. “Maybe we can check out these guys’ social media accounts and see if any of them are worth messaging.”

“One of my New Year’s resolutions is to remain single until further notice.”

“I sense a story here,” Gina says.

“The relationship was broken well before the breakup, if I’m being real. The writing was on the wall when Dax literally wrote the phone number of a guy who insulted him on a restaurant’s bathroom wall, along with a rude message.”

“Man child,” Gina mutters.

“Exactly. But I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.” Which is a bad habit I have when it comes to men.

“As for these love connection contestants, I could do some prescreening, see if there are any candidates here,” Gina singsongs as we return to the Clip and Curl.

“But I’m not looking.”

“If you were, who would be your ideal guy?”

“The opposite of Dax. So, tall, dark hair, distinguished. Stable job. Big earner. Smart. Honest, especially that.”

“I take it Dax betrayed you.”

“In more ways than one,” I mutter.

“Sounds to me like you were describing Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome from the Smoothery.”

“You mean Mr. Muffin?”

“You, an artist, of all people, should know that doesn’t quite paint the full picture.”