Page 37 of Betting on the Best Friend
But Sami wiggles over to settle herself in Josh’s lap in case Madison gets any ideas. Josh barely snatches his laptop out of the way, then sets it on the end table and draws Sami against his chest. “Are you saying it means something if you sit in Charlie’s lap, so that’s why you didn’t do it while you were dating Niles?” he asks.
“No, but it might have meant something to Niles.” I cock my head. “Is this a lawyer trap?”
Josh shakes his head. “Making deductions. For example, Charlie is a physical touch kind of guy with people he’s comfortable with. We’ve all seen it, so maybe it’s a bad sign that you didn’t see that between him and Sydney.”
They’re all staring at me like they’re waiting for something, but I have no idea what.
Madison sighs and surveys everyone else. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
They all nod.
If they’re about to tell me that there’s more to me and Char—
“You have to coach him,” Madison says. She gets three nods.
“Huh?” I need to do what, now?
“Like you made Joey do with Ava. If you think Charlie and Sydney are a good fit, coach him about how to flirt more. Sounds like he was being his usual attentive, present self, but he’s like that with everyone.”
I wave off the suggestion. “He’s doing fine. Still on his date, remember?”
“Maybe,” Sami says. “But if I were Sydney, he’d probably get one more date before I decided he wasn’t that into me. You gotta coach him.”
“This is ridiculous.” When did this suddenly become my job? “I’m not coaching Charlie. He does fine on his own.”
“Okay,” Sami says. “No big deal. Just seemed like you wanted them to hit it off.”
“I’m still hoping,” Madison agrees. “We want Charlie to have his own cutie too. Maybe after we get Ruby settled, we can make Charlie our next project. What do you think, Sami?”
Josh is already shaking his head, but Sami is nodding, and even Oliver looks thoughtful.
This is getting out of hand. “Charlie’s a big boy. He can handle himself. Can we talk about me now? Like who I’m going out with next? And also, let me remind you that I don’t have to go on any more dates this week.”
“Ava has a plan,” Sami says. “I’m not sure when it’s happening, but I think soon.”
“She better hurry,” Madison says. “I’ve got an eye on a guy at Oliver’s office.”
“Rashad,” he supplies. “Developer. Good dude. But Madison has to suggest it so it doesn’t feel like his boss is pressuring him.”
“Just his boss’s wife,” I say.
“Ex-wife and current fiancée,” Madison corrects. “I’m busy with school and the boutique, but yeah, I’ll make it over soon.”
“If you want to drop by for lunch, you can talk to Rashad, then study in my office,” Oliver suggests.
“Oh, but really we’d be making out?” Madison says, turning to kiss his jaw.
“Now that you mention it . . .” Oliver brushes his nose against her cheek.
“As if that wasn’t your plan all along,” I accuse him.
He stands and pulls Madison to her feet. “Now that you mention it, why wait?”
Madison gives us a saucy wink as he leads her out, still holding her hand. “Bye, friends. I have sudden plans.”
I wrinkle my nose in the direction of the shut door.
“No complaining,” Sami says. “That’s exactly what you were hoping for when you moved them around like chess pieces.”
