“He’s the one who starts the brawls during family reunions,” she says. “Then there’s my aunt, Giselle, who brings her new beau and causes a scene. Uncle Pete is arm-wrestling guests for money. This place is...surprisingly up my alley.”

I laugh because that sounds close to my family, but not exactly. When the bartender sets our drinks on the counter, I hand over her margarita and clink my tumbler against hers.

“What are we toasting?”

“To drunk uncles and loving, crazy families,” she suggests. “There’s never a dull moment during family reunions.”

“We’ll have to plan a secret wedding,” I joke.

She laughs. “We definitely need to elope if we want to avoid drama during our wedding.”

We both laugh and I raise my drink.

“To messy families, destination weddings, and you, Clarice.”

She tosses her head back and laughs a rich, open laugh that both relaxes me and stirs up everything inside me.

“I bet I win the award for the worst behaved family.”

“Well, Hannibal,” she grins. “My family would be a shoo-in against your psychotic tendencies. My nephew is Satan himself.”

Three margaritas later, we’re still laughing at all the shit her nephew does. Her family sounds awesome, but also overbearing. She shows me pictures of them. Her older sister, who is a physician’s assistant, married to a doctor.

“They’re always too busy for their children. At least now they don’t work on weekends.”

“What about emergencies?”

“They are on call, but they just answer a phone call or two. That’s all.”

“What does your brother do?”

“He’s a consultant. Human resources. I wish I could tell you what he does, but we usually talk about sports and the next trip he’s taking.”

“Married?”

She shakes her head. “He moves too fast and things never work out. He’s great. A little too overprotective, but I think he hasn’t found the girl of his dreams.”

“Is that even a thing?” I ask, because how can a person become your dream?

Yes, everyone talks about soulmates and shit, but happiness shouldn’t depend on just one person. What if that person dies?

She shrugs. “No one wants to be alone. Deep down, every person hopes to meet someone who understands them and loves them. The world might be filled with people, but there are days I feel like I’m the only one. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a man who’ll be by my side?”

“I thought you didn’t believe in relationships.”

“There’s a difference. I don’t believe because I’ve been hurt. I’ve seen my brother and my sister get hurt. Mom says I take others’ experiences to heart, but I shouldn’t close the door. That a heartache might be what I need to understand what is to love and be loved. To wait because the right one won’t leave.”