Page 11 of Tricking an Introvert

Tessa

The moment she pulled her phone out of her pocket, her eyes widened, finding a new conversation with two dozen notifications.

On the rare occasions when she socialized, she set her phone to “Do Not Disturb.” She often had texts and messages on social media, but that many at once?

“Sorry, let me just see what this is about…”

She opened the conversation and groaned.

Damn Whitney.

Whitney, and most of her college friends, didn’t know her New York friends well. That didn’t deter her; somehow, she had started a group conversation with Anna, Piper, and everyone else. The first message read, “So…how hot is that hot dude bringing you lattes? Talk. Now.”

Dammit.

She put it back in her pocket, feeling her cheeks heat up.

“A handsome suitor?” Michael guessed. “You’re blushing.”

“I’m always blushing,” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “And no, just nosy girlfriends. Shall I take both of your numbers to schedule stuff later?”

They all exchanged contact details before eating some more crab and chatting.

How surreal. She was casually chatting with one of her favorite authors, and she was going to draw one of his book covers. What’s more, the guy was really nice. She could see herself getting along with him.

As for his friend Cole…she didn’t really get him. He was nice, too. Suspiciously nice.

Cole and Michael were physical opposites. Equally gorgeous, but different; Cole had a darker complexion and different features, betraying a Latino or European heritage, while Michael seemed all-American, sandy-haired and brown-eyed. Michael was leaner, a little shorter, built like a runner. Cole looked like he wouldn’t seem out of place on a football field, out of his casual, light blue tailored suit and in a quarterback uniform.

That Michael was lovely was somehow less surprising; Cole, as a heterosexual, successful, hot, single, young guy, should have been an ass. In her experience, anyway, they generally were. If he was, he was hiding it remarkably well.

She truly felt comfortable with both of them, hence her readiness to accept a lift from Cole. She should have asked herself whether he planned to kidnap her and cut her up in little pieces, but she didn’t, not even for one second. Which probably made her naive. Still, she knew his name, and was going to divulge to a horde of nosy girls that he was taking her home, so if he was planning anything funny, his murdering ass would end up in jail in no time. If there was anything left of him after Lucy got hold of him. That girl was scary, especially when there was a baseball bat handy.

When they were all bursting—Cole had given in and devoured an acceptable amount of crab—they headed back to the hotel in his nice fancy car. She smiled all the way, realizing that she’d travel back to New York in style. Not seated next to a stranger with BO, or a class of screaming kids.

“Tomorrow?” she asked again in the lobby.

“Sure thing. I’m dropping Michael off at the airport at five, so I’ll be up early if you want to have breakfast.”

“Sounds great.”

She said so with a frown, because she didn’t get why he wanted to spend that much time with her.

When she made it back to her room, she started a bubble bath and poured herself a glass of wine before soaking inside.

Finally, she got her phone out and opened that damn chat. She had to catch up on almost fifty messages now.

She grinned while reading them.

“Come on, lady, give up the goods! I need material.”Cassie, of course.

“I’m guessing that you’re not answering us because you’re busy getting pounded into next year.”This one made her guffaw. She didn’t even have to check to know it was Tori Parker’s contribution.

Piper was quick to weigh in on the debate: “If he survived the Whitney stare, and still dared to approach you, we must know all details.”

She’d only met Whitney once or twice but it didn’t take long to recognize the determined woman as a force to be reckoned with.

“Especially his Social Security number. If he messes with you, he’ll have to deal with me.”The ominous warning was from Lucy.

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