Now or Never: A Last Chance Romance (Part 1) Read Online Free PDF

Justin.  An entertaining one, for sure.  But it doesn’t exactly make me feel any better about where I am in my life.”
    “Of course a conversation won’t make you feel better.  But once you get started on the list, I guarantee things will start looking up.”
    I laugh.  “I haven’t had a date in over a decade.  I can’t just start doing this stuff.”
    “I know you can’t do the list — not with that attitude.  But I’ll be your wingman.  You’ll see.  It will be fun.”
    “You’re not serious.”  But I’m smiling.  I hope he is serious.  Of course, the list isn’t literal.  But the idea of hanging out with him — even as friends, having fun conversations like this — thrills me.
    “I am totally serious.  And it will be good for me too — a challenge.  I’m sure I’ll find some adventures of my own along the way.”
    He slides the napkin over to me.
    “Number ten is still blank,” I say.
    He winks.  “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
    My heart leaps.
    “I should get you home,” he says.  I look at him, surprised.  Then I realize he probably wants to move on to greener pastures — the college girls sitting at the table nearby.
    I envy them so much in that moment, my stomach hurts.  They’re beautiful, they’re young, and they have all the time in the world.
    “It is getting late,” I say, putting money on the bar.  Justin picks it up and hands it back to me.  I’m not going to argue with him over paying for my drink.
    “Do you want me to call you a cab?”
    “I barely finished my drink.  I’m fine.  I’m a big girl, Justin.  Really.”
    “Okay.  Well, at least let me walk you to your car.”
    Outside, the night is much cooler.  I keep forgetting that summer is over.
    “I’ll probably end up taking a cab home myself,” he says.  “I’m not used to drinking in the ‘burbs.’”
    “Where do you live?”
    “Rittenhouse Square,” he says.  Of course.  One of the most beautiful parts of Center City.
    “I can’t believe you drive out here just for the meeting,” I say.  “That’s a little crazy, you know?”
    “I really should stop,” he says with a devilish smile.
    I hope he doesn’t.
    “That’s me,” I say, pointing to my white Honda.
    He walks me to the car, and waits until I have the door open before shaking my hand in mock formality.
    “Claire, this was interesting.”
    “Definitely,” I say, feeling like a blushing school girl.
    He hands me a cocktail napkin.  I glance at it and realize it’s the list.  Then he pulls out his cell phone.  “To be continued.  What’s your number?” he asks.
    “My number?”
    “It will be tough for me to get in touch with you without it.”
    I hesitate.  This has been fun, but I don’t need to be the source of amusement for some hot guy who has the strange habit of picking up women at support groups.  My life might be lame, but at least it has some integrity.
    “I’ll just see you next week at coffee hour,” I say, climbing behind the wheel of my car.  Ready to drive home, to my empty house.
    “I’d say every week counts for you, Claire,” he says, looking at me with a seriousness I have not yet seen on his handsome face.
    He might be a womanizer.  Or just a flirt.  Or just a good-looking guy with too much time on his hands.  I don’t know yet.  And I don’t care.  Because the thing is, he’s right.
    I give him my number.

Chapter 6
    My breasts are C cups.
    When I get home, I take off my blouse and my bra and I look at them.  They have lost their perk.  I think my nipples have become slightly darker.  And they have certainly never looked the same since I had Max.  And for twelve years they have been tucked away inside my bra, unseen by any man except my physician.
    And soon they will no longer be part of my body.
    It’s like that song or poem or whoever it was who said, You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
    Suddenly, I adore my breasts.  I don’t