Three Last First Dates

by Kate O'Keeffe

  Saying his name still hit me like a wrecking ball. He hadn’t returned any of my texts, apologizing for what I had done and asking for his forgiveness. I had even sent him a basket of chew toys and dog treats, but I’d never heard a word.

  I let out a nervous breath. Without Nash, I wouldn’t be standing here, waiting to sing to a roomful of strangers.

  “Honey, you need to focus on singing that song as best you can. That’s all that matters right now.” Bailey picked up her plate and paused, smiling at me. “And you’re going to do great. You got this.”

  I returned her smile, bees buzzing in my belly. “I hope so.”

  Paige burst into the room, Cassie trailing behind her, almost knocking the plate out of Bailey’s hands. “Sorry!” Paige exclaimed, steadying it.

  “That was a close one,” Bailey replied. She turned and winked at me before heading through the doorway, out into the café now humming with chatter.

  “So, are you all set?” Paige asked, her face bright.

  “I guess,” I replied, convincing absolutely no one.

  “Oh, you’re going to be amazing.”

  “I have some news that might help,” Cassie said with a wry grin.

  “You do?” Hope rose inside me like a helium balloon. Nash must be here! He’d come after all. Happiness spread through my belly.

  “I got a call only a few minutes ago. Apparently, Steve Bryant came in with a better offer at the last minute.” She watched me, waiting for my reaction.

  I furrowed my brow. Steve Bryant? Why would I care about Steve Bryant? And what did he have to do with Nash?

  “Well? Aren’t you happy?” Cassie asked when I didn’t react.

  I shook my head. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “We lost Pukeko Chocolates to Telco! Steve Bryant and his team offered them some deal they said they couldn’t refuse.”

  “They did?” Ordinarily, I would be infuriated by such news. But not this time. A smile spread across my face. “Poor Antoinette.”

  Cassie grinned. “I know, right?”

  Paige interrupted us. “Everyone’s sitting and we’re about to begin. You good to go?”

  I nodded as the bees tried to escape up my throat. I swallowed them down. I wanted to do this. No, scratch that, I needed to do this.

  Since my realization I had been in love with a phantom all these years, and that I was no longer that sad, lonely girl I once was, desperate for validation, I had been determined to do what I had set out to do, to ‘follow my passion,’ as Nash had called it.

  And like with my singing, I was not going to give up hope of getting Nash back one day. I was Marissa Jones, and I could achieve anything.

  You see, I knew Nash was The One. I just knew. And he was going to be, one day.

  I hadn’t heard hide nor tail from Eddie, and that suited me just fine. I had noticed his Facebook status had changed from “single” to “it’s complicated,” and I was proud to report it hadn’t affected me in the least. I only hoped the woman he was being “complicated” with now had the strength of character I had lacked when we were together and stands up to him to ensure she got what she wanted.

  But, he was no longer my problem.

  “Okay, I’ll go out and announce you,” Paige said. With an encouraging smile, she left the kitchen.

  “Knock ’em dead,” Cassie said before disappearing through the doorway herself.

  I took a deep breath and peered around the doorway once more. I spotted Will, Josh, and Ryan, sitting at a table at the back of the café. Ryan looked over toward me, smiled, and gave me the thumbs-up. I smiled back, bolstered by Cassie’s news.

  I could do this!

  I watched as Paige made her way to the makeshift stage. She stood in front of the microphone in the corner, a stool behind her. “Ladies and gentlemen, hi!” She smiled her gorgeous smile, and the audience smiled and clapped, some calling out greetings in response.

  “Welcome to the first ever Cozy Cottage Jam Open Mic! We at the Cozy Cottage Café are so happy to have you all here tonight, and I hope you’ve come ready to dazzle us with your musical performances. Now, a few rules: one song each, no heckling, and keep it clean, people.”

  I collected my guitar from its spot, leaning up against the kitchen the wall, and held it in my now clammy hands.

  “So, first up we have a Cozy Cottage regular, the fabulous Marissa Jones!” The audience clapped, and I could hear Will catcalling from the back, just as he had threatened to do.

  I stepped out from the sanctity of behind the counter and walked through the audience in my favorite pair of heels over to the stage, my nerves pinging around my body like a ball in a pinball machine. I pulled out the stool and sat down, putting my guitar on my lap and adjusting the microphone.

  “Hey, everyone,” I said, looking out at the sea of faces. The café wasn’t that large, but Paige and Bailey had brought in extra seating, so there must have been a good few dozen people in the audience tonight. I tried not to think about it.

  I strummed my guitar, ensuring it was in tune, although I knew it was as I’d tuned it only moments ago. I glanced up at the sea of faces once more, my tummy in knots. They were sitting in expectation, watching me. I swallowed.

  There was nothing left to do but sing.

  I leaned into the microphone again. “Ah . . . this song is for someone who couldn’t be here tonight, but who I wish . . . was.” A wave of sadness rolled over me, and I did my best to ignore it, instead turning my attention to the position of my fingers on my guitar.

  Without further delay, I strummed the first few bars and launched into the love song. I had chosen it to sing to Nash, to tell him how I felt about him, the man who had encouraged me to overcome my fears.

  Now, I was singing it to my friends and a roomful of strangers, Nash nowhere to be seen.

  As I sang the lyrics to the song, I closed my eyes, my nervousness simply slipping away. “When your legs don’t work . . .” It was like it was just me and my guitar, nothing and no one else. The melody flowed, and as I sang about falling in love, about being in love, I knew. No matter how, no matter when, I had to get Nash back. Pure and simple. He was my Last First Date.

  As I sang the last line and strummed the last bar, I opened my eyes and smiled tentatively. I had done it. I had no idea what I had sounded like, whether I was even any good, but I had done it. The audience burst into applause, and my smile grew until it filled my face, my heart bursting with pride.

  “Thanks,” I said, a little embarrassed but so thoroughly proud of myself. I stood up and leaned down to the microphone once more. “I’d like to say I’ll be here all week, but that was definitely a one-off.”

  As I straightened up, I spotted a familiar face, watching me intently from just inside the front door.

  Nash.

  My heart leapt into my mouth at the sight of him. What is he doing here? I shook my head and blinked. He was still there, I hadn’t imagined it.

  I looked at Paige, standing next to me. She shot me a quizzical look.

  “Sorry, I . . . I’ll get off your stage,” I managed. With shaking legs, I walked past her, my head full to the brim of what this might mean.

  As Paige announced the next performer from her clipboard, I looked over at Nash once more. He was still watching me with a look I couldn’t read. I chewed the inside of my lip, my breathing rapid. He nodded toward the counter, and I swallowed, nodding back.

  A moment later, we stood, facing one another as the next performer broke into a famous Motown number and the crowd hooted with excitement.

  “Hi,” I said, my voice breathless as I clutched onto the neck of my guitar.

  “Hi.” He nodded, pressing his lips together. Try as I might, his face was impossible to read. “Can we . . .?” He nodded at the kitchen.

  “Sure.” I lifted the counter leaf and stepped around, past the register, and out into the kitchen. Nash followed.

  Bailey looked up at me from a cake she was frosting. “Maris
sa, you were amazing!” she said, her face aglow. She glimpsed behind me, looking straight at Nash. “Oh.” She straightened up. “Look, just give me one moment.”

  “Please, don’t let us interrupt you. This is your kitchen,” Nash said. “Let’s go out the back,” he said to me.

  I nodded and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, heading to the door. With unsteady hands, I placed my guitar up against the wall. It slipped, and I caught it.

  “Here,” Nash said, taking it from me and placing it in a secure spot.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, wishing my hands hadn’t let me down.

  Once outside, under the light of a full moon, I stopped and turned, looking directly at Nash. I had no clue what he was doing here, but I couldn’t help but hope it was for a very good reason, the best reason.

  “You were great,” he said without a smile.

  I pressed my lips together, the hamsters doing cartwheels in my belly. “Thanks.”

  He stared at me, his jaw twitching.

  I shifted my weight. It’s now or never, Marissa. “I sang that song . . . for you.”

  He nodded. “Thank you.”

  Wow, what every girl wanted to hear when she told a guy she had overcome crippling nerves to stand up in front of an audience and sing him a love song: “thank you.”

  Again, he stood in front of me, not saying a word, simply staring at me.

  “Did you want to talk about anything or . . . something?” I asked, hoping to break whatever this was.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Okay,” I led. Was it me or was this getting beyond awkward? I decided to take a punt. I mean, he had to be here for a reason, and I hoped with all my heart that reason was a good one. I clutched my hands and took a cautious step toward him. He didn’t move. My heart was hammering hard. “Look, Nash. I know you’re probably still mad at me, and I totally understand why, but can —”

  Without a word, he stepped closer to me, swept me up in his arms, and pressed his lips against mine, kissing me as though his life depended on it. And oh, my, did I kiss him back, clutching onto him, barely believing he was here with me.

  We pulled apart, panting. I had to blink. There were stars, lots of them, and I didn’t mean just in the sky.

  “Wha-what?”

  He fixed me with his electric eyes. “No more freak-outs, okay? No more exes turning up out of the blue. Just you and me.”

  My chest expanded, my breath caught in my throat as my whole body came out in goosebumps. Just Nash and me. “You want to be with me?”

  He nodded and then leaned in and brushed his lips against mine in such a way as to leave no room for any doubt. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him in tight.

  He chuckled. “Marissa, I want to be with you. I love you.”

  I looked into his eyes, my heart swelling. “I love you, too.”

  “That song.” He sighed. “You were amazing.”

  “I was?” I flushed with pride.

  “Remind me never to take you on in karaoke.” He chuckled. “I’m really proud of you.” We grinned at one another.

  Nash was back, and he loved me. I had overcome my fears and sung a song to an audience. And I knew myself better than I ever had. And you know what? I kinda liked me.

  * * *

  After the last song had been sung and the Cozy Cottage Jam Open Mic was officially over, Nash and I stood hand-in-hand on the street together outside the Cozy Cottage Café, looking in. We had spent the last hour and a half, sitting in his truck, talking, kissing, planning, kissing, and kissing some more. We had a lot of time to make up, and kissing Nash had officially become one of my favorite things to do of all time.

  And it had felt so good, so right. Unlike Eddie, Nash was completely supportive of me. He liked me for me, not as someone to bolster his own self-interest. As we talked, a sense of calm, of knowing pervaded me. I knew he was the man for me, no question. And he’d come back to me, after all my mess ups.

  I could barely believe my luck.

  I spotted movement at the back of the café. I knocked on the window, and Cassie appeared from the kitchen, a puzzled look on her face. A moment later, Paige followed her out. She walked over and unlocked the door, letting us in.

  “Oh, my god! You guys! Does this mean . . .?” she asked, her eyes wide.

  I looked up at Nash and we shared a smile. Squeezing his hand, I replied, “It does.”

  Paige squealed, jumping up and down on the spot. “Hey, guys! Get out here!” she called over her shoulder.

  Cassie gave both of us a hug, congratulating us both on our fine choice.

  “You were my pick all along,” she said to Nash, and he smiled back at her.

  The rest of the gang filed out of the kitchen: Josh, Will, Bailey, and to my surprise, my brother, Ryan, looking happier than I’d seen him since the last time we were at the Cozy Cottage together, that fateful night when Eddie had come back into my life.

  “Does this mean you’re dating again?” Bailey asked with hope in her eyes.

  I stole a quick glance at Nash who smiled back at me, his face soft. “It does.”

  Bailey hugged me and then moved on to Nash, asking him if he had heard me sing.

  Ryan took the opportunity to sidle up to me and ask in a low voice, “Are you happy?”

  I nodded, my smile broad. My heart was full. “Oh, yes.”

  “Well, then, I’m happy for you. For both of you.”

  I regarded him through narrowed eyes. “What’s happened to ‘doomed love’ and all that?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s getting old, I guess.”

  I smiled at him. There was hope for him yet. “Does this mean I’m getting my sofa back soon?”

  He scrunched up his nose. “Maybe?”

  “Good. You deserve to be happy.”

  “Marissa? Do you want to do the thing?” Nash asked, interrupting us.

  “Oh, that sounds interesting,” Cassie said, her eyes bright.

  I grinned at Nash. “Okay. I’ll be right back, everyone.”

  Nash pulled his keys out of his pocket, and I pulled the door open, heading to his truck. A few moments later, I returned, knocking on the door to be let back in.

  Bailey opened the door and immediately looked down at my feet. “And what do we have here?”

  I leaned down and scooped the ball of fluff at my feet up into my arms. “This is Lucky.” Nash wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him as Lucky proceeded to lick my neck, her tail fanning my friends.

  “Oh, my god!” Cassie exclaimed, her hand flying to her face. “That is the cutest thing I ever saw!” She patted Lucky. “You are the sweetest.”

  Paige and Bailey followed suit, patting Lucky who lapped their attention right up.

  “When I go on my Last First Date, I want one of these, too. A package deal: great man and cute puppy.” Lucky tried to lick her hand as she stroked her head.

  “Dude, you turned up to win your woman with a puppy?” Josh asked as he shook his head. Turning to Will and Ryan, he added, “We’ve got to work on our game, guys.”

  “It’s just the way I roll,” Nash said with a smile, winking at me.

  “Well, whatever it is, you three make the perfect little family,” Paige said with a sigh, her hand on her heart.

  With Lucky in my arms, I looked up at Nash, my heart full to the brim. My face broke into a smile as wide as the Pacific Ocean. Not that long ago a statement like that would have had me running for the hills.

  Not anymore.

  Now, I was no longer committed to not being committed. I knew where my home was, I knew my own heart. And I was the luckiest girl in the world.

  THE END

  Thank you so much for reading Three Last First Dates. This is the third book in my Cozy Cottage Café Series. One Last First Date and Two Last First Dates are also available to buy on Amazon. All titles are free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

  There’s a fourth book in the series, Fou
r Last First Dates, which is café-owner Bailey’s story. You can get your copy from Amazon here.

  But first, here’s a sneak peek . . .

  Sneak Peek at Four Last First Dates

  “Tell me something,” the guy sitting across from me I’d known for less than thirty seconds said. He leaned his muscular arms on the sticky wooden table, his blue eyes dancing, “Did it hurt?”

  I blinked at him, trying to comprehend his meaning. “Did what hurt, exactly?”

  “You know, when you fell down to Earth from Heaven.” Satisfied with his pick-up line, he sat back against the vinyl booth seat, flicked his Bee Gees hair, and raised his eyebrows at me in expectation.

  I did an internal eye roll. That had to be the cheesiest line I’d had tonight—and I was afraid to report I’d had a few.

  “Oh, sure. I get it. And no, it didn’t.” I smiled at him, wishing this whole thing could be over and I could go home, sit on my sofa, throw on Netflix, and eat leftover cake from the Cozy Cottage Café.

  So much better than having to listen to jerks try to “charm me” like this guy.

  “Shame I wasn’t there to catch you. I’m very strong, you know.” He flashed a row of perfect pearly whites at me as he stroked his chin. His thick, designer five-o’clock shadow must have felt like sandpaper.

  I glanced over at my friends: Cassie, Paige, and Marissa. They were all working hard at pretending not to watch my every move. I gotta tell you, they weren’t doing a good job. As soon as they noticed me glaring at them, all three of them snapped their heads, looking at anything but me.

  Thanks a lot, girls.

  Still, I could really only blame myself for the predicament I found myself in, sitting across from some sleazy guy and his dreadful pick-up lines. You see, I was at a speed dating event down at O’Dowd’s pub, trying to find my Last First Date.

  Yes, that’s right. I was trying to find the last man I’d ever go out with. Why? It’s a long story. Suffice to day I’d agreed to a pact with the three friends sitting over at the bar to marry the next guy I dated, just like they had.