Chapter Dedication: SCsoph

Song of recommendation for the chapter: Sam Smith ft. Demi Lovato- I'm ready. 🎶 🎶

"So, will you marry me?"

"Holy shit!" The lady gasped and half of the diners turned toward them as the guy pushed his chair back,went on one knee and held up an opened black box. "Yes!"

The diners erupted into cheers and applauded as he slipped the ring on her finger and they began to swap bodily fluids.

Lee chugged down the remainder of her H2O with a wince. After witnessing the scene that just unfolded at the next table, she felt even more uncomfortable sitting on her own. After Lark picked her up from the Agency, they'd checked into the hotel Rainy booked for them the day before. Lark had gone to bed immediately they stepped into the room, and that was after she promised to meet Lee at the hotel's restaurant by six, but she was late.

To distract herself from her ennui, Lee reached into her purse and pulled out the folded piece of paper she'd stashed there before leaving her room. She glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before unfolding it—although it wasn't a huge secret as it held the name of the restaurant she'd be meeting her selected partner for The Thirty days Challenge.

The Butcher Bar.

It was as if the universe had a thing in it for her and that restaurant, because the memory of he-whose-name-shall-forever-remain-unspoken breaking up with her and her dramatic exit from the mezzanine level was still fresh in her mind. They no doubt had a picture of her at the front door with the caption: 'Woman is dangerous, do not let her in' in block letters.

Lee mentally face-palmed.

As she sat in the crowded restaurant filled with people who all appeared to be in love, she made a decision. It was time to take the reins of her life. It was time to stop living in the shadow of her Ex parting words to her and start enjoying what life had to offer. The bastard was probably enjoying his life with his future bride.

She pulled a pencil out of her purse and doddle a little set of kissy faces beside the restaurant's name. The challenge may not turn out the way she hoped in the end, but that didn't mean she wouldn't enjoy the time with her faceless partner. What's more, she would rediscover herself.

It was a win-win.

"Hi, gorgeous."

Lark's touch on her shoulder made her jump out of her chair. Lee grabbed the paper so fast that she knocked over her glass. Luckily, it was already empty.

Lark set the glass upright and laughed as she sat down across from her. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you, Lee. "

"It's fine. I guess I was lost in my thoughts."

"And what were you thinking about?" Lark's lips twisted into a sly grin. "The next thirty sex filled days?"

Lee ducked her head to hide her heated cheeks. "Just what to order for dinner."

Lee eyed the dessert cart as it rolled past their table. She wondered whoever thought up the idea as a good thing. Why did they think piling a cart up with mouth-watering desserts and then roll it tauntingly past the patrons was a good idea? She doubted if there wasn't a living being in there tonight not salivating at all that yummy goodness.

"Lee?"

Lee forced her gaze away from the decadent sweets settled them on Lark, who looked even more stunning in her red turtle neck sweater and matching hoop earrings.

"Uh?"

"I asked if you have checked your email for the location you'll be meeting your date?"

"Oh, no. I will do so when we get back to the hotel." Lee picked her glass of water—a waiter had stopped by to refill it—and took a sip to mask her grimace. She was shit at lying and Lake would call her out if she knew. The last thing she wanted was sympathy and angry words about what-his-face.

Lark shook her head. "You should. I thought people are usually ballistic about these type of things. At least that's how females going on a blind date act, right?"

"Why should I be happy about meeting someone who might later turn out to be what I did not expect?" She toyed with her napkin. "I'm stepping outside my comfort zone. That's hardly anything to be happy about."

"Is that why you've been quiet?"

"Am I quiet?"

"Yes. You don't get distracted unless something's bothering you."

"I'm sorry. And no, nothing's bothering me."

"Don't be. I just want to know what's going on in that mind of yours. You don't have to do the challenge, you know. You can still withdraw. "

For a moment, Lee considered saying yes and go back to her little bakery shop and forget about this challenge business, but that would be reverting back into what her Ex accused her of. It meant admitting defeat without even trying and if their mother taught her anything before she passed away, it was not to give up without trying it first. Or she could go back home and call Sutton to set her up on a—

"No!"

Lee winced as she realized from Lark's stunned expression that she's spoken aloud.

"Okay." Lark furrowed a brow and looked down at her glass of wine. "You don't have to tell me."

Lee took a deep breath and tried to focus. Her new goal in life was to seize the bull by its horns and ride through the jerks and storms. If Sutton could build a life for herself and her father could be happy again after he lost their mother, then she too would find happiness or die trying. Not literally, of course.

"What I meant was that you don't really want to know."

"Sure I do." Lark met her eyes. "We're sisters, remember? And I can't be happy if you're not."

Lee smiled. It warmed her heart to have Lark with her at this moment. It was not that the others weren't easy to talk to, but she was closer to Lark, because she knew just how to get the truth out of her.

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

"I've decided that no matter the outcome of this challenge, I won't fold into myself again."

"Oh?" Lark's lips twitched at the corners.

Lee waited for her to laugh, but she picked up her drink instead.

"Yes. I won't let anyone decide what I want to do for me, and I am done with letting he-whose-name-shall-forever-remain-unspoken control my life when he's busy enjoying his life with Anne-from-stag- city." Which was the name she was christened by Lee's friends.

Lark laughed as she set her glass back down without even taking a sip. "I can't believe you just called him that. You always get so defensive whenever we called him by that name even after he broke up with you."

Lee shrugged. "In my defense, I was holding on to the hope that he would change his mind and come begging about the breakup being a mistake, but I realized that crap only happened in the movies and books."

"Thank God you've come back into your senses. I miss my Lee-Lee who was never afraid to take on the world with that daredevil, no nonsense attitude you perfected to a tee."

As the waiter assigned to them stopped by their table to take their order, Lee glanced over at a couple that was seated two table from the newly engaged couples. They were engaged in a conversation. Both too occupied to eat their food or even take a sip of their drinks. But they wore matching sets of wedding rings and from the looks on their faces, Lee wasn't sure that would be wearing them for long.

Another sign that relationship would always be a risk. The lucky ones stayed together no matter what came their way, while the unlucky one's ended up with joint custody of their children— if they had any—and shared properties.

Life sucked lemons, sometimes.

"You should give him a chance."

Lee looked back at Lark and realized she'd missed most of what she said.

"Give who a chance?"

"Whoever your partner is."

"I will. But I'm not going to put all my faith in him. He might be in it for the fun of it. No matter what happens, I intend to enjoy myself." Lee heard the determination in her own voice.

In the last year, she'd let the desire of others dictate her own choices. Now she was ready to make her own decision based on her needs.

The waiter returned with their food and left after refiling their glasses. Lee eyed Lark's plate of greens. The girl wasn't balanced when it came to what she chugged down. Some days it was tooth decaying sweetness, the others it was healthy vegan stuff.

"And what if he falls in love with you?"

"Then he's my Mr. Right. I won't be lead on with false hope anymore." She picked at her food. "If I learned anything from my Ex, it's that I shouldn't let the need to please others blind my decisions and feelings. As long as I keep expecting that every guy I meet would be my future partner, I would end up heartbroken each time they leave. If I don't fall in love with my partner and he with me after thirty days, then it's not meant to be."

"I'm surprised. I can't believe you, of all people, would be a pessimist about love." Lark's tone was a little cross. Lee looked up at her.

"As they say, experience is the best teacher." She raised an eyebrow. "He will have plenty of time to make a move to show me that he wants a future with me. Is that some type of male pride thing— to build a woman's hope up and then toss her out in the end?"

"That's not fair." Lark grinned. "He may be shy. And he may not say anything, because he's scared you don't feel the same way."

"Well, he'll have to speak up. Communication, trust and honesty are the most important part of a relationship."

"So you won't even give him a little bit of hope? Show some affection?"

Lee laughed. "Whose side are you on?"

"Sorry. It's the first time, since I knew you, I've heard you talk about love like this. And you haven't even met the guy."

"I just want to be prepared." Lee took a bite of her rice, waited until she swallowed before speaking. "Besides, you won't even meet him until you get back from your trip."

Lark rolled her eyes. "There's something called the Internet. Give me his name and a picture and I'll fish him out in no time."

Lee laughed again. "I'll miss you."

"Ditto." Lark looked into her eyes. "There's one thing I can promise you though."

"What's that?"

"You're never going to be alone."

Lee smiled. Of course, she wasn't going to be alone. Rainy and Millie would pester her with their presence and squeeze every detail from her. Lark would call and facetime like nobody's business. Yet she wouldn't trade them for anybody else in the world.

Lee cleared her throat to clear the sudden lump in it. "You're right, Lark. No, I'll never be alone." She smiled at her.

A/N:

I usually don't do this, but I realized that you guys don't comment or vote and I thought maybe it's because I am not adding it at the end of the chapters. So I am trying to rectify that now.

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