I lock up the door and head back to bed.

I FEEL LIKE A HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders, not having to deal with Patrick anymore. As much as he loved me, I feel like he hated me that much more. Today is going to be all about starting over. A new me. I’m no longer going to let a man dictate my life. I’m going to have a kick ass day with my best friend, and swear off men forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but for a long time.

I just called a taxi to take me over to Brea’s since I left my car there last night. When I arrive she’s already waiting on her front porch. I hop out of the cab and meet her over at my car so we can leave right away.

“Hey, Brea, have you been waiting long?” I ask as she gets in.

“Nope. Just walked out of the house.” She slams the door hard.

“Hey! What did my car ever do to you?” I snap, giving her the stink eye.

“Shit. Sorry, Lex. I’m not used to these heavy doors,” she apologizes while putting on her seat belt. “Anyways, spill the beans. How did Patrick take the break up?”

“It was kind of eerie, actually. I was expecting him to have a huge freak out and go all spazz at me, but instead he was kind of quiet and seemed really crushed. I think I may have actually broken his black heart.”

“Don’t you go feeling sorry for that asshole. There is no excuse for any of his freak-outs at you, Lex. You don’t deserve that kind of treatment. You need a man that is going to worship the ground you walk on. He should build you up and make you feel like a queen, not tear you down and make you feel like you’re smaller than a grain of salt.” Brea was always there to build up my self-esteem every single time that Patrick would crush it.

“You know, Bre, I think I need a break from guys for a while. I need to focus on me. Besides, why would anyone want me anyway?”

We arrive at the Stoplight Café and go inside to find all the tables full, except for one in the very back corner. The Stoplight (as we call it) is just very cozy little diner with spots to sit all along the bar. The entire dining area, which again is not all that big, has a perfect view of the grill and the fryer. You can actually watch your meal being made. It’s kind of fun and has a fifties feel to it.

We order our usual: cheeseburgers and cheese fries. Brea orders an iced tea and I order a Pepsi. It doesn’t take long before our food arrives. As the server sets our plates down, I hear the bells on the door as someone walks in. I don’t think anything of it. I’m too excited about my cheese fries. These things are amazing. And they’re probably going straight to my ass, but who cares. I’ve never been one to worry about things like that.

Brea and I are chowing down and discussing our tattoo appointment when I feel a shiver. You know that one you get when you think someone is staring at you? Yeah, that one. I turn around quickly, expecting someone to be standing over my shoulder, but there’s no one there. I must be paranoid after what happened with Patrick. Just then, my eyes wander toward the barstools to find the most beautiful man I have ever seen. He is giving me a delicious smirk.

I realize that he’s caught me staring at him, and my mouth is full of cheese fries. I quickly finish chewing and direct my gaze out the window. My face feels flushed.

Shake it off. You just got out of a shitty relationship. Men just complicate your life. Maybe you have some cheese on your face and that’s why he’s staring at you like a hungry beast that wants to lick it off.

“Earth to Lex. Are you going to finish your food? We have to go soon. If we’re late for our appointment, Josh will make sure these tattoos hurt a little more than they should. What has you lost in outer space all of a sudden?” Bre asks, glancing around the diner in search of what has me so flustered. “Ah, never mind,” she says, grinning. “I found him. He’s hot, Lex. Go say hi!”

“No!” I whisper. “Are you crazy, Brea? I just broke up with Patrick last night. I need some breathing room. Besides, I spend so much time working at the restaurant. I don’t have time to be dealing with another needy, whiny asshole that is just going to freak out at me over random things that piss him off. It’s time to focus on myself for a change.”

Brea shrugs. “Okay, girl, but you could be missing something amazing here. You never know. What if he’s ‘the one’?”

I damn near spit out my drink. “Right, Bre, like ‘the one’ is going to be the most gorgeous tattooed man I have ever seen sitting in a diner. Fat chance. I’m sure he was just staring at me because I have food on my face or something.”

“Well, you’re right about one thing,” she says, grinning.

“What?” I ask, looking confused.

“You do have food on your face,” she says, pointing to some cheese on my lower lip. She hands me a napkin. “Wipe that sauce off and let’s get going, Sunshine. We don’t want to keep Josh waiting. You know how he gets.”

Brea heads over to the counter as I gather my things. Suddenly, I feel the air shift behind me as I get a hint of the most breathtaking cologne I have ever smelled.

Oh God, it’s him. Stay strong, Lex. Play it cool. I turn my head to pretend I’m looking out the window at the parking lot. I see out of the corner of my eye that my suspicion is confirmed. I quickly snap my head back toward the cash register as Brea steps out of the way for me to pay.

I start to open my purse when I feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. A low, sexy voice softly says in my ear,

“It’s on me, beautiful.”

“Um, thank you. But that’s not necessary. No offense, but I don’t know you and I am perfectly capable of paying for my own meal,” I say while turning around to face him, trying to hide my attitude and sound appreciative.

Holy shit, he’s tall. He must be at least 6’4’’and built. Wow, is he ever built. And the tattoos….hot! From what I can see, his arms and even his hands are covered, along with his neck. My God, he has the longest, sexiest, most amazingly gorgeous tattooed neck I have ever seen. I swallow hard, realizing I’ve been staring at him, and nervously bite my bottom lip.

He gives me that delicious smirk again and sticks out his hand. “Hi, I’m Coen Walker. Nice to meet you.”

“Uh, Lexi Taylor.” I say, sticking my wallet back in my purse. My cheeks flush.

“Look, Lexi, I don’t just go around buying random gorgeous girls lunch.” He rubs the back of his neck. That delectable neck that’s begging for my touch.

What is wrong with you, Lex? This guy probably has women knocking down his door daily. Besides, you finally have a chance to breathe without Patrick to worry about.

“You have the most amazing brown eyes I have ever seen.”

Wait, what did he just say? Is he still talking to me?

“Um, thank you. It was nice meeting you as well, but we’re in a rush. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”

“Looking forward to it, Lexi. It was my pleasure,” he says, dimples showing as he smiles.

I turn, damn near tripping over my own feet, and rush out the door to where Brea is waiting for me. She gives me an “I told you so” look.

“Don’t even say it, Brea. He paid for my lunch and said hello. That’s it! Now let’s go before…” My phone vibrates and Diamond Tattoo Studio flashes across the screen. It’s a text from Josh:

Josh: You two have about 5 minutes before I purposely misspell words on these pretty little tattoos of yours.

Me: Shit. Sorry, Josh! We got held up at the Stoplight. It was busy in there today. Leaving now. See you in two.

Josh: Make it snappy, woman! Time is money!