Page 43 of Actually Yours

“I just mean,” he backtracks, his hands up in surrender, “that she’s clearly looking for something and she’s not seeing it in you.”

The truth in his words hit me like a bullet train. Amelia, for all her friendly chats and flirty messages, is persisting with this quest to find Mr. Right, while I’m sitting at home, waiting for the phone to ring. There’s definitely something wrong with this picture.

“You’re right,” I say. “Why am I being like this?”

He gives me a look, sympathy plastered all over his face. “Because you really like her? And you think maybe she could like you back?”

We sit in silence, his words heavy between us.

“Why don’t you just try to forget about her for one night?” he finally speaks up, continuing his mission to cheer me up, not knowing he’s asking for the impossible. I haven’t been able to forget about Amelia since I sat next to her at that bar all those months ago.

“Hey, isn’t that Amelia?” Aaron says as he puts the three precariously balanced bottles of beer he’s holding on the table between us and points to the door. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

I turn at such a speed that I’ll later require a massage to fix my neck, and my eyes land on her. She’s with her friend Bella and she looks…spectacular.

“That’s her.”

Amelia struts into the bar, wearing a dress made to torture all of mankind, a little black number that hugs her slight curves and stops mid-thigh, combined with sky-high heels that make her legs look miles long. Her hair is dead straight, parted in the middle and hanging down her back. The honey colour has been lightened, and the ends have a lavender haze. She’s gorgeous and so out of my league.

“I thought you said she’s on a date tonight?” Steven’s voice sounds like it’s coming from far away, only just cutting through the loud ringing noise that started in my head the minute Amelia entered the room.

“I thought she was,” I mutter into my beer bottle, my mind whirring with possibilities.What happened to Dr. Dave?

“Are you going to talk to her?”

I’d have to stand in line. I watch through the lens of the green-eyed monster as hordes of men surround Amelia andBella as they approach the bar, each vying for the attention of the beautiful women.

“At least say hello,” Aaron urges me.

My feet move in her direction without my brain giving them permission, and I go with it. By some stroke of luck, not only is Amelia not on a date with a doctor looking likethat, but she’s also here in this room with me.It has to be a sign or something?

“Hey.”

I touch her elbow to get her attention and feel the customary buzz of electricity that happens whenever her skin makes contact with mine.

“Jake!”

That’s excitement I’m hearing in her voice? Right?

“Hey.”

Come on, man. Find some more words.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, going up on her tippy toes to speak into my ear.

I point to where Steven and Aaron are grinning at us. “They forced me out of the house.”

She laughs, a light sound that I imagine pixie dust would sound like. “You sound so thrilled about it.”

“I’m here under duress.”

“I thought there were at least a few more weeks until you were due to leave your house.”

A thrill courses through me. She’s been paying attention and keeping track. I love this more than I should.

“Hey, Jake.”

My gaze reluctantly leaves Amelia and I turn to see her friend looking at me, big question marks written all over her expression.

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