Page 79 of Phishing for Love
“Always,” she admits airily.
With deft, gentle fingers, Kenzie starts braiding my hair. I’m in absolute heaven, my limbs weak with pleasure.
Idly, she says, “I wonder who blabbed to Calvin about you.”
“Aaron denies it was him,” I say. “Funnily enough, I believe him.”
“My money’s on Rick,” Sofia puts forward. “The man loves to schmooze.”
“We don’t have proof,” Kenzie argues.
Sofia scoffs. “The man himself is proof.”
“He did make it a point to stop by my desk and gloat,” I remember.
“Blast it, I should’ve brought another doll,” Sofia seethes. “I saw some hideous wrestling figurines that reminded me of him.”
The three of us stare at the Calvin-like doll that Ash is still mauling with vicious abandon.
“Never mind about Rick,” Sofia orders, redirecting her attention to my other hand and carefully applying red polish to my thumb. “New topic. What did we learn today?”
“That Calvin really loves bulldogs,” I answer tongue-in-cheek.
Sofia’s laugh is full and throaty. “Nah, we all knew that. What we learned today is...” She pauses, raising her eyebrows.
What is she waiting for? A drumroll? When Kenzie starts tapping away on my back, I realize that, yes, that’s exactly what my drama-loving friend is waiting for.
“Today,” she declares, “we learned that Aaron really,reallylikes you!”
“Nope,” I argue. “Wrong deduction.”
Kenzie lets out a dreamy sigh. “We heard all about him chasing after you. It’s so romantic.”
I try my tipsy best to control my face heating up. I’ve replayed over and over in my head the scene where Aaron pulled me out of harm’s way, his patience and kindness toward me in the park, his desire to start our interactions afresh.
“You’ve pushed and challenged him at every turn,” Sofia says, “yet he still went after you.”
For some reason, I feel compelled to disagree. “But he always acts like he strongly dislikes me.”
A chuckle rustles in Sofia’s throat. “Tess, he only acts like he dislikes you because he likes you so much.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“When do laws of attraction ever make sense?” Kenzie suggests, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Romance is not defined or restricted by logic. That’s what makes it so magical.”
“Uh, hello, people, there is no romance,” I insist forcefully.
Sofia pouts. “Spoilsport.”
“Nathan,” I remind her. “My boyfriend.”
Sofia makes a gagging sound.
“Why are you so against him?” I ask.
“I’m not against him per se,” she explains. “I’m just against himfor you.”
“Why?”
