Page 44 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“Is he dragging his feet?Maybe he just needs a nudge in the right direction,” Tristan says, then looks to David.“Maybe we can supply a nudge.”

“I’m not sure I’m following.”

“You need another man to make him jealous.”

David laughs.“You mean like he did with you and Maya?”

Tristan nods.“You willing to flirt with her and make him jealous?”

David shakes his head.“No way.This is between you and him.”

“But I’m married.”

“It’s not like you’re actually going to do anything.”

“True.Let me text the wife and find out if she’s okay with it.Can we take a selfie?”he asks me.I nod, not quite understanding what I’m getting myself into, and he puts his arm around me and snaps a picture.

I glance up and catch Seth’s eyes.There’s definitely a flare of jealousy.

Oh, I get it.

A few moments later, Tristan snorts and hands me the phone.I read a series of texts between him and “Hot Mama.”

Tristan: Got Seth’s girl here.You okay if I flirt with her to make him jealous?

Hot Mama: That’s Mae?!?!?!She’s gorgeous.Seth never mentioned that.And totally.He deserves it.I want to hear all the dirty details tonight when you call.

I exit the text app and click on the photos app.“I want to see pictures of Hot Mama.”

Tristan snatches the phone away from me.“Uh, let me find one that’s appropriate.”

I laugh.Maybe New York won’t be so bad after all.

“Not that one,” Tristan mutters under his breath.“Certainly not that one.”

Then he blushes.After a few more moments, he hands me the phone.“Here, this is from the Christmas we met.”

It’s a group picture of them in Christmas pajamas.“Why do all of you look like you’re ready to star in Magic Mike?”I ask.

David rolls his eyes.“Because the women think we need to be shirtless for Christmas dinner.”

I study the picture a little more.The women are all gorgeous, and one is sitting on Seth’s lap.Insecurities well up in me again.I’m not the kind of woman he usually goes for.I wonder if he’ll get bored of our game.

“What did Seth do that you want to get back at him for?”

“When I first met my beautiful wife, I was in denial about how I felt about her, so Seth pursued her instead.He said it was just to make me jealous so I’d take the leap, but I bet if she’d been willing, he would’ve slept with her.”

I hate to admit it, but Tristan is probably right.

We finish our dinner and head out into the streets.It’s still early.Just after lunch, but the crowds are unbearable.People press in from all sides, making it hard to move.

Tristan slyly touches my arm and whispers cheeky comments in my ear whenever he thinks Seth is looking.Abi has wandered off with David and Hayden up ahead, leaving the two of us in the middle while Seth and Anna trail behind.Sometimes I lose track of Abi in the thick crowds, and panic rises in my chest, but she always reappears.

“Hey, Tristan!”Seth yells from behind us.“I need to speak to you.”

Tristan gives me a wink and falls back to talk to Seth, leaving me alone for a moment.I can still see the others up ahead, but there’s a small crowd blocking our path now.

The honking horns and blaring sirens seem to be everywhere.My chest feels tight, and I clench my fists as I walk.

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