Page 65 of Friend Zone to End Zone

I didn’t know.

I also didn’t know if I dared try to figure it out. Because I had a feeling that if I let myself fully experience what it would be like to be tangled up in Cole’s arms, I may never want to leave.

I let my fingers lazily trace their way down the back of his neck, liking the texture of his hair where it was short. I had cut a lot of hair in my day but touching his was different in a way. It was nicer.

When I saw goosebumps on his neck, my fingers itched to do more. To see what would happen if I touched his skin with my lips.

But no. That would be crossing the line.

And crossing lines made things messy.

So deciding that I’d indulged myself enough, I pulled my fingers away and said in a low voice, “I’m glad you’re not mad at me for making you cut it in order to be your dating coach.”

“I’m not mad.” His eyes searched mine. As if he was trying to figure out what was going through my mind. “I think there may actually be something to it. I’m feeling a little more confident about my chances of reaching my goal anyway.”

His goal?

His goal of finding a girlfriend to build a life with?

Or making something happen with aspecificgirl?

I didn’t dare ask.

Because if I did, I might have to sabotage his plans in order to protect us from the future that would eventually come. And that would be a pity because I really didn’t want to completely mess up such a perfect night.

27

Arianna

Dinner was delicious.We decided to forgo dessert since we filled up on all the yummy food. While the waiter cleared our table, Cole pulled me out of the secluded alcove we’d eaten our meal in and onto the floor so we could dance to my favorite song when Incognito started singing it.

“I kind of feel like I’m on one of those iconic dates fromFinding Your Soulmate,”I told Cole as we swayed from side to side to the beat of “Miles Away Next to You.”

A guilty expression crossed Cole’s features and he said, “I may have used the show for just alittleinspiration.”

“You can’t go wrong with that, I suppose.” I grinned. “I mean, women from all across America swoon over those dates every Monday.” I glanced over at the band. “But how did you arrange for Incognito to come here? Because from what I hear, he rarely does small things like this because he’s so paranoid about protecting his identity.”

Cole shrugged. “Let’s just say that I know a guy who knows a guy.”

“And who would that guy be?” I pried.

“Just someone. You can’t expect me to give away all my secrets, can you?”

“You famous people.” I shook my head. “You really do protect each other’s privacy, don’t you?”

“I guess we all know what it’s like to live in a glass house and have everyone commenting on your every move, or every haircut.” He gave me a meaningful look. “So we try to give each other the courtesy we want for ourselves.”

“So that’s the real reason why you closed out the whole restaurant, isn’t it?” I said with a sly grin. “You didn’t want everyone to know you’re on a practice date with me, did you?”

“You caught me.” He chuckled, and I liked that I could feel it vibrating in his chest since we were so close. “I mean, soon they’d put two and two together and before I know it, everyone would figure out that I’m the mysterious man behind @ariannasbiggestfan and then my cover would be blown.”

I laughed. “What a tragedy that would be.”

“I have a manly image to protect.”

“Yes, you do.”

Incognito finished the second verse and started singing the bridge, which was my favorite part of the song. I just loved all the emotion he poured into the song—a story about a guy who was in love with a girl who didn’t see him the way he wanted. The unrequited love story was both heartbreaking and super swoon-worthy, because even though the guy in the song was too scared to tell the girl he was in love with about his feelings, it always sounded so romantic to think about what it would be like to have someone adore you so much that they would move heaven and earth to be with you.

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