Made for You (The Best Mistake 2)

Her wave of self-doubt should have been limited to one day of birthday blues, but instead her discontent had been hovering above her head like a cartoon storm cloud. His unexpected presence brought back too many memories of her less-than-stellar moments.

Like the time she’d keyed his car. Or the time she’d told his junior-year girlfriend that he was gay.

Or the time she’d woken up in his bed. Naked.

Don’t go there. The man had no bearing on her future.

Maybe that was her problem. Brynn was a big believer in always keeping one eye on the future, but perhaps she was trying to focus on too much at once. Her life list had become overwhelming instead of being the beacon of focus it was supposed to be. Perhaps it was time to focus on just one item.

The most important one.

Marriage.

And James would propose this year. She was sure of it. And then her next birthday would be perfect.

Except…while focusing on the future usually centered Brynn, today it wasn’t working. Did she really want to spend her life merely ticking off days until her next big Life Event?

Wasn’t there supposed to be…more?

“You okay?” Susan asked, tilting her head to study Brynn. “You seem kind of off.”

“A little PMS,” Brynn lied. “And the Blanton meeting gave me a headache. The mayor seems so levelheaded on TV, but up close she’s a little…intense.”

“Aren’t they all when it comes to their darlings’ teeth? Slight overbites are the quintessential first-world problems.”

“Does it ever get to you?” Brynn asked. “The fact that the majority of our clients come in for cosmetic reasons?”

Susan lifted a shoulder. “I guess I sort of knew it coming into it, ya know? I mean, I know it’s not saving lives, but it’s good money, good hours…”

“But is it fulfilling?”

Susan blinked in surprise. “Of course. I love my job.”

Brynn loved her job too. At least, she was pretty sure she did. Sometimes it felt a little less like love, and a lot more like…contentment.

But that was good enough, right?

“I’ll grab our lunches,” Susan said, standing. “You bring a salad?”

“Yeah,” Brynn said distractedly. It was Wednesday; of course she’d brought a salad.

“Cool. I have some Midol in my purse. You’ll feel better by the time your one o’clock gets here.”

“Thanks, Sue,” Brynn said distractedly as her tiny friend walked out of the office with perfect posture.

Her smile slipped as soon as her friend was out of sight. Somehow she didn’t think Midol would fix whatever was bothering her.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Take one day a week for solitude and reflection.

Sundays are “me” days.

—Brynn Dalton’s Rules for an

Exemplary Life, #76

Brynn had spent an inordinate amount of time wondering what “favor” Will would call in for helping with the flat tire.