Page 21 of The Little Black Book

I give Sophie a pointed look, and she rolls her eyes. “I don’t tell Jared everything, you know.”

“Swear it. I want a solemn vow that this stays between us.”

“I solemnly swear to keep your secrets,” Sophie says, lifting her palm like she’s on a witness stand. “I won’t breathe a word to Jared.”

I stare at her for a beat longer, then nod. Taking a breath, I get my thoughts in order. I need to make sure I tell this right so the girls don’t get the wrong idea.

“After the zipline, when we were having drinks, there was this moment between us.”

Sophie squeals and wiggles in her chair, but my dark look wipes the smile off her face.Almost.

“I was teasing Sam about his split-personality. You know how he’s so rigid and focused at work, but doesn’t seem to have a serious bone in his body when we’re all hanging out socially?” They both nod in agreement, so I go on. “Well, he denied it, saying he could be serious outside of work, and when I scoffed, he said I haven’t seen it because he hasn’t tried to seduce me.”

“Oh, boy,” Ava says, grinning and rubbing her palms together.

I swallow thickly and go on. “He spun me around to face him, gripped my hair to tilt my head back, and ran his nose up my neck and along my jawline.”

“Oh, shit,” Sophie says, fanning herself with a napkin.

“That’s hot,” Ava adds.

“It was. And I wasn’t…unaffected.”

“Of course, you weren’t,” Sophie says. “I’m happily in love, andI’mturned on by the second-hand retelling.”

“I think you should explore this,” Ava says, nodding.

I shake my head before she finishes the sentence. “No. Sam and I are friends, and he’s counting on me to help him find love.”

Ava and Sophie share a look before turning back to me. Sophie nods and Ava shrugs, and though I know they have more to say, I don’t want to hear it. It was a moment of weakness. I’ve been alone for too long, and that’s why Sam’s teasing affected me.

I’m not interested in him that way. I’m really not.

“Anyway, he texted me this morning, and he has another date tomorrow for lunch. With Madison.”

My voice deepens on the name without my permission, and I can tell by their expressions, they don’t miss the inflection. I look down at my plate and pick up another fry, sweeping it in the melted cheese before popping it into my mouth.

What in the hell is wrong with me? I’m all-in on this plan to help Sam. I want him to be happy. So why do I have this ugly feeling in my gut when I imagine observing another date?

I push my plate away with a grunt. I must have indigestion. The greasy fries are making my stomach churn, not some unwelcome dissatisfaction with my promise to help Sam find love.

Yeah. Indigestion. That’s all it is.

“So where is he takingMadisonon this date?” Ava asks.

I barely restrain from glaring at her as I answer, “Jonathon’s.”

Sophie nods. “Nice place.”

“Yeah,” I say, a chuckle bursting out of me. “He lied and said he was meeting her atBurgers and Pop,and I almost had a heart attack.”

“Ew,” Ava says frowning. “The roach coach?”

“Thank God he was joking,” I say with a shiver. “And even if it didn’t have the infestation issue, a first date at a food truck is just…wrong.”

“That’s definitely third-date material,” Sophie says, nodding.

“Or fourth,” Ava counters. “So, you’re going to observe, and what? Encourage him to ask her out again if things go well?”

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