Page 83 of Friend Zone to End Zone

“You mean aside from your talk of ogling him on the TV every Sunday?” I laughed.

She shrugged. “It’s my house. I can do whatever I want.”

Cole took a sip of his drink then gave my friend one of his dazzling smiles. “Everyone has been very welcoming.”

Which was true. I was pretty sure every woman in the room had tried to take a photo of him with his new haircut, and then offered to give Cole a tour of the house so they could steal a moment alone with the superstar whether they came here with a date or husband or not.

Cole had, of course, politely declined all their offers and had thankfully stuck to my side.

“Wait,” Zara said with a frown. “Where’s Chad?” She glanced around at the group gathered in the living room. “I don’t know if I’ve seen him yet. Did he go out of town again?”

And here we were.

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I realized the moment had officially come to put our plans into motion. Cole and I had only been warming up so far, getting comfortable at a party where no one expected us to be anything more than the best friends we’d always been.

But now it was time for us to officially kick our plan into gear because—as if Zara’s curiosity over Chad’s whereabouts had summoned him—the front door opened at that moment and Chad stepped into the room.

I hadn’t known whether to expect him to show up with Amber on his arm or not. But when he walked in alone, wearing a tailored gray suit I’d helped him pick out and looking every bit as handsome as he’d ever been, I suddenly felt lightheaded.

Because even though I hated the way he’d treated me, I knew my weaknesses and I’d always had a huge weak spot for that man.

He’d always made mefeelweak.

But as if sensing exactly what was going on in my stupid brain, Cole slipped his arm around my waist and in a low voice next to my ear, he said, “We’re in this together, okay?”

I gave him a grateful look and mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Chad!”Zara stood on her tiptoes and waved a hand to get Chad’s attention. And before I could tell her that Chad and I were no longer a couple, she said, “Arianna’s over here with me.”

His brow furrowed momentarily, his blue eyes meeting mine with a look of confusion. And for a second, I thought he might turn away—pretend he hadn’t heard Zara or seen me. But then a tentative smile formed on his lips and he started walking toward us.

Oh crap.

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!

My fingers went tingly, and I looked up at Cole with what I was sure resembled a look of pure desperation and whispered, “Don’t let me go back to him.”

Because if that look in Chad’s eyes told me anything, it told me that history was about to repeat itself and Chad had come here intending to win me back.

Just like he’d done a dozen times before.

And succeeded.

Cole squeezed me closer to his side, seeming to understand just how much I’d need him to get through this. “I’ll make sure this time is different.”

And so as Chad walked toward us through the crowd of people, I reminded myself of all the reasons why I never wanted anything to do with him again.

I would not fall for his charm and manipulation tactics.

I wouldn’t let him trick me into thinking things would be different this time.

He’d cheated on me and I wouldn’t be his doormat again, or the trophy on his arm.

Each time we’d broken up, he’d always come back so repentant—always so much sweeter than he’d been before.

He’d tell me exactly what I wanted to hear. Say he was lost without me, that he’d do better by me and that things would be different because he’d had a chance to realize how lucky he was to have me.

He’d basically turn back into the guy I’d fallen in love with and promise me everything I’d ever wanted.

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