Page 23 of Crazy Love

“Now you have me curious.” Henley cranes his neck to look for Camden and his eyes widen when he sees Addy talking to him. “Well, look at that. It’s Adeline Evans.”

“You okay there, Penn?” Rhodes asks when he finally comes up for air.

“I’m fine,” I grumble.

And as if this day is not bad enough, Addy makes her way over toourtable and slides into the empty seat across from me, still smiling like she hasn’t completely ruined my night.

“Sorry,” she says, adjusting her napkin on her lap. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Camden.”

I let out a low, unimpressed hum. “Clearly.”

The girls turn to me with various levels of frowny faces. I start pulling a roll apart.

Addy glances up, giving me an unsettling smile and then looks around the table. “This is a nice surprise, seeing all of youtwice in one day. I hope you don’t mind me intruding on your dinner.”

Henley clears his throat. “We’re so happy you could join us. I hear you go by Addy too? Is that right?”

Weston choke-laughs.

She looks at me and her cheeks bloom into red. “Penn must have told you we met.” She bites the inside of her lip and I wish I could do that.

The girls immediately perk up.

“Wait, you know Penn?” Tru asks.

“How do you two know each other?” Sadie asks.

Addy and I are doing a staredown and I take a small amount of pleasure in the fact that she folds first. She blinks and tilts her head, a small smile playing at her lips, like she’s daring me to answer.

I sigh, scrubbing a hand down my face. “It’s…a long story.”

Elle leans in, practically vibrating with curiosity. “We love long stories.”

Rhodes shakes his head, biting back a laugh. “This is gonna be good.”

I shoot him a glare, but I can already see it happening—the matchmaking, the scheming. These women love to meddle, and most of the time I love them for it, especially when it’s notmybusiness they’re dipping into. They already look way too invested in this, and the guys are enjoying my misery too much.

And Addy? She just sits there, looking beautiful and somewhat pleased with herself, while I try to figure out how the hell I’m going to survive this dinner.

And okay, I’ll admit it: I’m still stewing over Camden.

“So, are you dating Camden?” I ask, with an air of complete nonchalance. Because despite my insides doing 360s, I know how to maintain an outward calm.

I can Jason Bourne with the best of them.

Her jaw tightens and her eyes narrow on mine. “No. I’m best friends with his sister, Goldie.”

“Aw! Best friend’s brother! I love that trope!” Elle says happily.

I glare at her. “This is not about Camden,” I snap.

“But youjustasked her if she was dating Camden,” Elle says, confused.

“And she said she’s not,” I say, glancing back at Addy.

“You best take that sassy tone elsewhere, pretty boy,” Rhodes murmurs under his breath.

I shoot Elle an apologetic look and she smiles but looks confused. Damn. Maybe I’m not pulling the outward calm vibe off very well.

---