Page 21 of Matched with the Playboy Next Door

I walk over slowly, pretending I’m too busy with the bags in my hands to get involved right away. But Mia spots me immediately.

“There you are!” she calls, practically skipping over. “We need you. I have no one else who can do it but you.”

I blink. “Do what?”

“Host the event!” Mia says, her excitement so high I can practically hear the exclamation points in her voice. “There’s no one else. We need you, Riley. You’re the best for this. Dotty agrees, too.”

I stare at her. “Me? Host?”

She nods vigorously. “Yes, ofcourse. Who else?”

I’m still not convinced, but Mia’s already tugging me toward the stage. I mutter useless excuses she ignores as she drags me along.

As we reach the stage, I notice a group of people gathered near the front. I’m starting to feel a little less certain about this whole thing, but I’m too far in now to turn back. Mia, with her usual intensity, takes over with introductions.

Then, she gestures toward me, signaling that it’s time to speak. I step forward hesitantly, ready to do my part and get this over with. But just as I’m about to grab the mic, Mia pulls it away from me with a cheeky grin.

“Surprise!” she says, eyes sparkling. “You’re not doing this alone, Riley!”

I blink, taken off guard. “What? You said?—”

“Oh, I lied. Technically, you’re not alone,” Mia grins, dramatically pointing behind me.

I turn, and my stomach drops. There, standing as he belongs on a stage with a microphone in hand, is Ethan.

“Seriously? You’re impossible,” I say with a sigh.

Ethan grins at me, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like we’re in this together.”

“No, no, no,” I groan, hands on my hips. “Mia, you said I was hosting.”

“Well,” she says with a mischievous grin, “there’s no one else I could think of who’d be able to handle Ethan’s charm.”

“I’m pretty sure I can handle it,” I snap back, but my heart’s already pounding, and I’m not sure whether it’s from irritation or something else. “Just let him do it on his own, then.”

“I can’t do it alone,” Ethan argues. “I’m still the new guy in town, I need your help!”

Mia’s eyes sparkle as she watches us. “This is going to be fun.”

I turn to Ethan, trying to hide my frustration. “So, I’m stuck with you?”

“Yep.” He’s annoyingly confident, practically leaning against the stage like he owns the place. “But don’t worry, I’ll make it easy for you.”

I can’t help it—a laugh slips out before I could stop it. “You’re ridiculous,” I say, shaking my head, but the warmth in his eyes makes it hard to stay annoyed.

But Ethan just shrugs, that obnoxiously handsome smile never leaving his face. “Hey, I didn’t ask for this either.”

“Great,” I say, sarcastic as ever. “A team made in heaven.”

Mia watches us, her grin stretching even wider. “Go on, you two. Let’s see what you’ve got. The crowd’s waiting!”

I open my mouth to argue, but Ethan steps forward, offering me his hand like he’s ready to make some grand speech.

“All right, partner,” he says with a wink. “Let’sgive them a show.”

I stare at his hand, the one that’s so casually extended, and for a split second, I feel like everything’s spinning. What do I even do with this?

I hesitate, and then—against my better judgment—I take his hand.

---