Lucky Love by Nicola Marsh

like this. Heck, I rarely did anything on impulse.
    “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow and try to talk sense into you.”
    I smiled. “Won’t work. I need to do this to get my spark back. Kinda like your flirting with the Lech.”
    Nat chuckled. “Bitch.”
    I made a smooching sound. “Love you too, babe. See you tomorrow.”
    I’d miss Nat terribly but I wasn’t moving to Love forever and she had enough cash to visit.
    I glanced at my watch and did a little jig. Time to Skype Aunt Flo.
    In less than a minute she appeared on the screen, cookie in one hand, cigarette in the other.
    “What’s wrong?” She peered at the screen and I waved her back.
    “Nothing, why?”
    “You never Skype me this time on a Saturday night in OZ. You’re always primping for some party.”
    “Not always—”
    “You’re out every weekend. The only time we speak is when you get home at some ridiculous hour.” She took a drag on her cigarette and blew out smoke rings. “Which makes me wonder, what’s going on?”
    Was I really contemplating temporarily moving to the other side of the world to live with her?
    “Thought you might be interested to know I’m taking a trip—”
    “Well I’ll be blowed.” She stubbed out the cigarette in record time and did a little shimmy on her seat. “You’re really coming?”
    I nodded. “Booked the ticket today.”
    Flo tended to ramble. She also tended to swear and judge and pontificate, all in the same sentence. And she was never, ever speechless.
    This was a first.
    “I’ve quit my job, got out of my lease and started investigating a green card—”
    “You’re staying for longer than a week?” Flo slumped in her chair, stunned.
    “Absolutely. When I fall in Love I do a damn good job of it.”
    She smirked. “You’ll fit right in if you’re starting with the puns already.”
    “Must’ve rubbed off from you.”
    Flo dragged a hand through her hair, sending her wiry grey curls in all directions. “Seriously, sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re coming.”
    “Me too.”
    “Will you be here for Christmas?”
    I shook my head. “Sorry, first flight I could get out was day before New Year’s.”
    Flo tapped her bottom lip, as if pondering a way she could get the airlines to miraculously find me a ticket. “Liv’s son Marc is mega rich. Runs an acquisitions company in LA. Maybe he could pull some strings—”
    “I’ll see you on the thirty-first.” I waved an arm in the direction of my apartment. “Besides, I need that time to pack and say goodbye to people.”
    “Fair enough.”
    “I hope I don’t have to share a room with this new man of yours?”
    Flo guffawed. “Not bloody likely. We haven’t got that far yet.”
    I winked. “Taking it slow, huh?”
    “You don’t know the half of it,” Flo muttered, lowering her voice. “I’ve got a plan for Love Fest and if it works out … well, let’s just say the old codger won’t know what hits him.”
    I loved the twinkle in her eye and I knew living with Flo would prove entertaining.
    “Does he have a hot son for me?”
    “I haven’t asked.” Her eyes widened in horror. “Bloody hell, what if he’s married? What if the old fogey is a phony?” She pressed her fingertips to her temples. “I’m too old for this shite.”
    I laughed, knowing I’d hear her signature saying many times over the next few months.
    “Tell you what. While I’m busy indulging in a rousing goodbye to Sydney, you rustle up all the hottest, eligible guys in town who love Aussie accents and tell them I’m coming.”
    She saluted. “You’re on.”
    As I reached forward to disconnect, she held up a finger. “One more thing.”
    “Yeah?”
    She crooked her finger and I leaned forward.
    Flo winked. “Pack a case with Tim Tams and Vegemite.”
    “But you hate Vegemite?”
    “I do, but my man fancies it and with a little luck he’ll spread it over me and—”
    I disconnected with a resounding euw !
    Yeah, I was grossed out but the fact