The Last Single Girl by Caitie Quinn, Bria Quinlan Page A

with our table for the Murder on the Rocks party… I know, right? I'm going to look fabulous in my flapper dress. The whole roaring twenties murder mystery is genius."
    Angie and Becca both pushed their drinks aside to lean in, listening over the rumble of the growing bar crowd.
    "Well, we'd like to get a few more people seated with us. Is there anyway we could shuffle them in? Uh-huh… Yup… Absolutely. I can make sure you get on the list for that opening… Of course. Well, we need three more."
    "Wait." Angie waved her hand in front of Clair. "What about Sarah?"
    Everyone turned my way and I was tempted to tell them I was engaged and getting married on New Year's Eve if they and their newly found plus-ones were available.
    "Oh. Sarah, did you meet someone too?" Since the beginning of time—otherwise known as Julie's wedding four years ago—Claire disliked me on sight. Her competitive nature seemed to triple around me. Only I didn't really know what we were competing over, so I just tried to stay out of her way.
    I thought about lying, but knew faking a boyfriend would lead to all kinds of social pitfalls I couldn't navigate. Plus, I'd seen The Wedding Date. That was so a path I didn't want to walk down.
    "No. Not really." I dragged the really out hoping they'd read something into it I didn't mean—like maybe there was a guy I'd been holding out on them about. An amazingly hot guy who owned a small, undisclosed island off the coast of a certain wealthy country. Obviously I couldn't talk about him for security reasons.
    "Say four," Angie whispered. "I'm sure Sarah won't have a problem getting a date."
    Claire cocked an eyebrow at me as if she not only knew how doubtful it was, but she expected me to back her up.
    Oh, no, Claire. Don't ask for a fourth seat. We all know no one would ever want to go out with me, let alone give up one of the best party nights of the year to hang out with a nerdy museum curator.
    Right.
    Instead, I just smiled.
    And thought nasty thoughts.
    Claire tilted her head as if she could read my mind and smiled in a way that clearly said, Oh. You poor thing.
    "Why don't you make it four? That's a full table, right?" Claire grinned and nodded. "Just put it on my credit card. We'll take care of splitting it on our end."
    Great. Way to kick yourself in the rear, Sarah. Exactly what makes the holidays shiny. Paying for an empty chair.

TWO
    DATING TRUTH #2: No man will ever understand and love you like your best friend does.
     
     
    "THIS IS JANE. I'm either lugging around my beautiful daughter or hanging out with my gorgeous husband. Or I'm lying and cleaning the toilets. Either way, leave a message after the beep."
    BEEP.
    "Hey Jane. It's Sarah. Just calling to chat. Hope your Thanksgiving was great. Give me a ring." I paused, about to hang up, then rushed on before I could cave. "Also, I'm emailing you something right now. If you could look at it, not show Matt, and not tell anyone, that would be great. Okaythanksbye."
    I hurried through the last words, hanging up before I could change my mind.
    I was feeling panicked. I knew this happened. Knew someone had to have the honor. But I never thought I might be the last single girl .
    It felt like a title.
    Maybe I should have business cards made.
    Or…maybe not.
    It wasn't just the idea of being the last single girl. It was everything that went with it. The things you weren't invited to because people thought you'd be uncomfortable alone. The way Certain Women always reminded you they had someone… and you didn't. The feeling of loneliness you sometimes felt, even with your best friend because you knew you were no longer her best friend.
    And so, like any emotionally cornered woman, I did something extreme.
    I joined eLove.com to try to find someone special—or not horrible—for New Year's.
    The internet had found me everything else of import over the last few years: An apartment, a job, a car… that Kate Spade bag. So, yes, I had some confidence in