I came, I saw, I wanted.
When I laid eyes on Milana, I knew immediately I had to have her. It didn’t matter to me she was supposed to go on a date with someone else. It didn’t even matter if I had to pretend to be said blind date. I knew she belonged to me and I’d have her even if the whole world was against me.
He came, he saw, he wanted.
I’ve stumbled a lot in my life. My middle name should be “oops.” Things don't always go my way which is why I'm shocked when the date my best friend set me up on turns out to be a gorgeous man that sweeps me off my feeHe's too handsome and charming for anyone's good. He has heartbreak written all over him. Even though he’s determined not to let me out of his sight now, I’m afraid if I give in, it will be the biggest mistake of my life once he realizes all those oops I make aren't as adorable as he thinks.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
one
MILANA
“This is the worst best thing ever,” I mutter. I had lunch two hours ago, and I’m already hungry again.
“The dress or the date?” Lauren pulls the lavender-colored dress back toward her, offended not only for the dress but herself as well. It’s her favorite dress, and she’s going to let me wear it. Me! The girl who can only manage not to get something on herself every other meal. I can’t help it if I’m a bit of a klutz. I really do try not to be, but it never works out for me.
I’m a hot mess. I honestly think I was cursed the day I was born. I was told my birth mother named me Milana because Mila means grace. That the world would be graced with my presence. Or maybe she’d meant it more for my adopted parents' life. For all I know, my parents made that whole story up, but they did say the one condition of the adoption was that my birth mother got to name me. Unfortunately, graceful is the last thing I’ve ever been.
“No, I’m talking about us living above a bakery.” The smell of sweet sugar and coffee is always filling the small space Lauren and I share. It doesn’t matter if I’ve eaten or not, I’m always hungry living here.
It’s not your typical apartment; it’s one nice open area except with two very small bedrooms. I think the space is really made for one person or maybe a couple, but Lauren and I make it work. It helps that we work together, though. Lauren is a photographer, and sometimes I assist her, but I do more of the Photoshop editing and such. Photoshop, the one place you can be a klutz and easily fix it without a soul ever knowing.
“Right.” She scrunches her nose in agreement. “Always hungry, but at least we always smell sweet.”
“That’s true.” Guess that five for twenty-five deal at Bath and Body Works coupon code I’d saved in my email can be trashed. Who needs it when you can smell like vanilla cupcakes and powdered sugar naturally? Think of all the money we’re saving.
“Are you going to wear this?” She shakes the dress that hangs on the ugly yellow plastic hanger.
“I don’t want to ruin it. It’s your favorite.” We both know there is an almost one hundred percent likelihood that the dress will need to be thrown away or need some serious dry cleaning after I get through wearing it.
“I don’t give a flying fuck as long as you’re going on this date.”
“I should cancel for the dress’ sake!” That’s a new excuse I haven’t used yet. I’m running out of them fairly quickly.
“We agreed!” She narrows her eyes at me, letting me know she’s serious and there is no way I’m getting out of this.
“Who asks for someone to sign up for a dating app for their own birthday and then makes them go on a date?!” I throw my hands in the air. This is ridiculous. Of all the things Lauren has done over the years, this is one of the most absurd.
“I do. That’s who.” Lauren walks over and shoves the dress at me. “Put it on.”
“You’re bossy,” I huff, taking the dress from her. Not that I have much of a choice. I know once she has her mind made up that there is no changing it.
“You’ve been saying that since the third grade. Yet here we are living the dream together.” Lauren smirks.
Not only did she make me a whole dating profile, she also picked the guy she thought fit me best. John. Sounds lame and boring to me. Wonder if his birth mother tried to curse him too.
“Am I really doing this?” I glance at the clock on the microwave. My date is at four. At least Lauren made it easy. It’s a coffee date. Right downstairs. Though I’m not to let anyone know I live above the bakery because they could stalk and kill me. That’s what Lauren made sure to inform me—but also, oh yeah, you should still go on the date.