"Good. Although I guess that's better than stalking you like we did a couple of weeks ago."
My head snapped around to look at the man in question. "What?"
Standing on the other side of the coffee table, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips together for a moment. "I—well, Jesus, Archie. That was just—uh, just—"
The man was totally flustered, and it made me smile in triumph as I watched him carefully. So had he fallen for that little hint I'd left him and gone on a wild goose chase?
He came around and sat down on the couch, a good foot away from me, and took a slow breath, running a hand through his thick hair. I could have sworn he was blushing. Tristan Hawthorne was capable of blushing?
"Listen," he said, his eyes finally meeting mine. "So yeah, you mentioned you'd be going to a fashion event, and I kind of indulged in a little light stalking."
I nodded, trying to rein in the satisfaction that gave me, because maybe this thing was working after all.
"I just wanted to see you," he said, his voice low. "I was desperate for even a glimpse of you."
Ha!
Archie tossed a piece of popcorn at him. "Dude, that's so cringe."
Tristan's phone rang, and he glanced at the screen, the corners of his mouth turning down in a frown.
"Who is it?" Archie asked.
"Unknown number."
"You should totally get it. You never know."
Tristan shrugged and answered, the voice on the other end so loud and enthusiastic I could hear every word.
"Hello! This is Blake from Elite Escape Cruises, and I have an exclusive invitation for you. We're offering a VIP luxury cruise experience for successful gentlemen and their refinedcompanions. Since you expressed interest at the sugar daddies event in Miami last month, we're giving you—"
"Excuse me? What?" Tristan blurted, his tone pitching up in disbelief. "Did you just say I signed up at a sugar daddy event?"
Archie laughed so loudly, I had trouble hearing the poor woman's reply. But I did catch a few words, something about first access and a small deposit to secure a suite.
I couldn't believe my luck. When Ethan had said he was going to sign Tristan up for every spammy cruise contest he could find, mentioning that the people who made the calls were absolutely relentless, I hadn't known what to expect. But I was here right now to witness it firsthand!
"Shall I go ahead and reserve that for you?" she asked, ever cheerful.
Tristan exhaled sharply. "No. No, thank you. I will never, and I meannever, be interested in this cruise. Okay? So please, I ambeggingyou, please remove me from your list. In fact, remove me fromallyour lists. And while you're at it, tell your affiliates to erase my existence too."
And with that, he hung up, looking in disbelief from my face to Archie's, the two of us not even bothering to hold in our laughter.
"I have no idea how these people got my number, but I swear, if I get one more call inviting me on a cruise I didn't sign up for, I'm throwing this phone into the river."
His exasperated tone only succeeded in making us laugh harder.
"I have half a mind to call your buddy Ethan Locke to see if he can get to the bottom of this," he declared.
Oh, my God, if he only knew.
"That's a good idea," I sputtered out.
His eyes focused in on me. "How do you know him anyway?"
"Ethan?" Crap. I had to play this off. "Oh, I don't even remember how we met. We go way back."
He grunted, clearly not loving my answer and still put out from the phone call.
