Page 24 of Tricking an Introvert

I’m not ambitious enough, pretty enough, dressed appropriately, I don’t know.

What a load of bullshit. She wasn't just pretty, she was stunning, and kind, and adorable, and smart, and talented. She was good enough for anyone. Especially him. Type A or no.

"That's…weird. That would be weird."

"Not all of us are like you, Cole," Michael told him. "I don't really approach people. If they don't come to me, I assume they're not interested. Or straight. Or…you know, whatever."

And as he'd eloquently told Tessa, Michael was Tessa in non-bunny pants.

"So, you're saying I should make my interest more obvious?"

Michael took a moment to think. "Maybe. I don't know. Tessa doesn't really seem to be the casual fling type. Your current situation could be a decent opportunity. Hang out with her. You can platonically date, or whatever. Enjoy the friend zone. If you know you like her enough to stick around, then yeah. Step out of it."

Cole nodded. It sounded like a plan. Or a recipe for blue balls, one of the two.

"And Cole? Don't mess it up with her. I like her. And I love her art. If you think you're not that into her, walk away. You're not losing us an illustrator, understood?"

He nodded. There was no way he was going to hurt Tessa. He'd have to kick his own ass if he did.

"Good. Now, I got an invite to the Book Expo. You wanna check it out, then we can talk pros and cons? I'm only doing four events next year."

That was four more than the previous year.

Cole sat down and reviewed the proposal, returning to their usual work dynamic. Throughout the day, his mind firmly returned to an artist who lived a few blocks away.

At seven, instead of heading home, he rang Tessa's doorbell, a bag of takeout food in hand.

"What is it with the men of my acquaintance and their inability to call me before turning up?"

He managed to prevent himself from asking if she meant another guy besides him and Lewis.

"I picked up tacos?" he supplied.

She stepped aside. "Come on in, then."

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