Page 31 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Oh, believe me, I know. He’s barely stopped saying it.”

“Hey, he’s a sweetheart. Nothing wrong with that.”

She snorted. “You haven’t even met him. I haven’t told you about how he once pulled Barbie’s head off because I wouldn’t let her marry Ken.”

“Scandalous. Who was she marrying instead?”

August hesitated. “Christie.”

“Cute.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve always been a screaming homosexual. It’s fine.”

Piper laughed. “It’s adorable.”

“Thank you. But anyway, Ford is both a sweetheart and a menace, and hopefully, he’s doing better now. Should I let you get to your thing, though? Because I can tell you’ve stopped walking, so I’m guessing you’re there.”

“How very astute of you.”

“That was always how my teachers described me.”

“Was it?”

“No.”

Piper grinned, shook her head, and sighed. “I suppose I should head in before they send out a rescue party for me. But keep me posted on how making the first messaging move goes.”

“Will do. Keep me posted if any more guys ask you about kiwis.”

Piper shuddered. “I will, but I genuinely hope that’s not something I have to worry about tonight.”

They hung up and Piper quickly headed inside, eager to get out of the cold, wet night now that she wasn’t talking to August. Despite the groups milling around and talking, her heels still clicked audibly against the polished gallery floor.

“Hey, you made it,” Shea said as Piper joined the group. “Not a moment too soon. I was about to go make a new friend.”

Piper turned to where she indicated. Across the large entrance hall from them, there was an androgynous person with a faux hawk, an ear full of piercings, and a leather jacket with the sleeves rolled up to reveal two arms full of tattoos. Very much Shea’s type.

“They’ve been making eyes at each other for about twenty minutes now,” Hermes said, shaking his head, his dark curls bobbling with the movement. “I should have been taking bets on who’d give in first and approach the other.”

“Who would your money have been on?” Piper asked.

He shot her a look. “Shea, obviously. The fact that she’s been this patient is a wonder.”

Shea rolled her eyes. “I was waiting for Piper to arrive.”

Piper grinned. “My apologies. Don’t let me hold you back.”

“You’re not even late,” Massima said, sweetly. “We were just really early.”

“Good to know,” Piper said, checking her watch. “I was talking to August on the way over, so—”

“So you could have been late and not even noticed time flying,” Hermes said, shooting her a pointed look.

She frowned, holding her hands up in question. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” he said lightly, but there was something in his expression.

Shea nudged her gently as she started across the hall. “He’s just jealous you’ve got a new friend.”

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