Chapter 8 The Happiness Potion

"Hi," I say, but then it hits me-it's the middle of the night, and I shouldn't be calling anyone this late, especially not someone I barely know. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'll hang up the phone now."

Before I can move my thumb to end the call, Luke's voice comes through the line. "Don't hang up."

The way he says it-easy, like we talk all the time-makes me pause. I stare at the ceiling, biting my lip. There's something comforting about his voice, like I'm not alone in this stupid mess I've found myself in.

"Talk to me," Luke says.

"I dialed your number by mistake," I lie, cringing at how lame it sounds. "Alright. I had a bad dream, so I picked up my phone and dialed the first number I saw."

Luke laughs. "A bad dream, huh? Were there monsters?"

I roll my eyes even though he can't see me. "Something like that."

There's a brief pause, and I hear him moving on the other end, like he's shifting around. "Well, since I'm awake, let me tell you a story to cheer you up. There was this time I got stuck in a bathroom at a nightclub."

"Stuck in a bathroom?"

"Oh yeah, picture this," he says. "I'm at this club, right? Trying to impress this girl, of course. You know, typical Friday night."

"Typical for you, maybe."

"Exactly," he says, not missing a beat. "So I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, like a gentleman, and somehow-don't ask me how-I manage to lock myself in the stall."

I can't help but laugh. "Seriously?"

"Dead serious. I'm in there, banging on the door like I'm some kind of prison escapee, but the music's blasting, so no one can hear me. I'm thinking, 'This is it. This is how I die.'"

"Imagine dying in a bathroom stall... tragic end."

"Right? Eventually, the janitor finds me, probably thinking I'm some drunk idiot. By the time I get out, the girl's long gone."

I shake my head, smiling. "Of course she was. She probably thought you were hiding from her."

"Maybe," Luke says. "But hey, I still looked good when I got out, so that's what counts."

I scoff. "Yeah, because that's what's important in life. Looking good while trapped in a bathroom."

"You get me," he says, and I can hear the grin in his voice.

I settle back against my pillows, the phone pressed to my ear. I realize he's moving around a lot. I can hear it in the background-the faint shuffle of steps, the sound of things being moved.

"Where are you, by the way?" I ask. "It sounds like you're pacing or something."

"Just wrapping up some work," he says.

"At the bar?"

There's a pause. "No," he replies but doesn't elaborate. Instead, he changes the topic. "So, bad dreams, huh? Want to tell me about it?"

I hesitate, chewing on my lip as I stare at the ceiling. I could lie, tell him it was just some random nightmare, but the truth is it wasn't really about sleep at all. "It wasn't a dream," I say. "It's just... everything with Ryan."

He hums, not pushing further. "Yeah, I figured."

I turn onto my side, clutching the blanket a little tighter, and for a moment, I consider hanging up and going back to sleep. This is dangerous territory, letting someone like Luke into my mess, even if it's just for a conversation. But then the words just spill out, almost before I realize what I'm saying.

"I need to ask you something."

"Sure," Luke says. "Go ahead."

"Ryan... he wants to meet you." I say it quickly, as if that will somehow make it less awkward.

There's a pause, and then Luke laughs. "Meet me? Is he bringing a gun?"

"Possibly," I say, rolling my eyes. "No, he wants to meet you tomorrow. During lunch. Thirty minutes into his break. He asked for it."

Luke lets out a low whistle, like this is some kind of movie we're playing out. "Sounds intense. What's he gonna do, size me up? Give me the 'stay away from my wife' speech?"

"Honestly, I don't know," I admit. "But I figured you should know."

"So, this lunch date... am I supposed to bring flowers?"

"Bring a bulletproof vest," I reply.

He laughs again, and the sound of it sends a strange warmth through me. "Don't worry, Julie. I've got this."

I hesitate, but for some reason, talking to Luke makes it all seem a little lighter. "Okay," I finally say. "I'll send you the address by noon tomorrow. Just... don't be late."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, boss," he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. "Goodnight, Julie."

"Goodnight, Luke," I whisper, hanging up the phone.

For a moment, I just sit there staring at nothing. I should feel anxious, should be dreading tomorrow, but instead, I feel something else. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

A strange, quiet happiness.

I pull the blankets tighter around me, the small smile still lingering on my lips as I close my eyes. For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful.

~~~

I walk into the living room at dawn, smiling to myself. There's an unusual lightness in my step, like I'm carrying a secret no one else knows. It's funny how a simple phone call can change your outlook on life. I'm wearing my favorite navy blue suit, the one that always makes me feel like I can take on the world. And today, I need all the confidence I can get.

As I head toward the dining area, I hear the soft clinking of cutlery. Ryan and Emily are already seated at the table, picking at one of Emily's sad, greenish breakfasts. Some kind of smoothie and a bowl of something that looks like it was grown in a swamp.

Ryan notices me first. He eyes me from head to toe and then narrows his eyes. Emily looks up next, her gaze landing on my smile, and she raises an eyebrow.

"Well, someone's in a good mood this morning," she says with a smirk.

I lean against the doorframe. "What can I say? Life's short. People keep forgetting we don't have much time on this earth, so we might as well enjoy it."

Ryan's still watching me with narrowed eyes. I almost laugh at how hard he's trying to figure me out.

Emily, on the other hand, just chuckles. "I'll get Martha to make you something."

I wave her off, already heading toward the door. "No, thanks. I'm running late for a meeting with my team."

"You're the leader of that team," Emily says. "You can be as late as you want."

I stop, turning to look at her. "Only bad bosses think they're better than the people who work under them."

Emily blinks, taken aback. Ryan, though, doesn't say anything. He's still watching me like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop.

When I reach the door, I pause and glance back at them. "Oh, and Ryan... don't forget about lunch today." I give him a slow smile. "I can't wait for you to meet him."

His jaw tightens, but he stays silent.

Without waiting for a response, I open the door and step outside, closing it behind me. For the first time in a long while, I'm in control.