Have someone look under the hood while you hit the starter. If it goes "zing" and the engine doesn't spin then you have a bad starter drive. It's possible that when you try it several times it will finally engage. And then the next time it won't work until you try it several times again. That's typical for a starter drive that's crapping out. Eventually it will leave you stranded so I'd check it out soon.

1998 Sportage - Gone.
2004 Honda Civic Coupe.
2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara - She got it.