Page 45 of A Little Tempting

“Totally get it.” I let her go, shoving aside my disappointment. I love Mav, and I love how much he loves Ophelia. But we spent years dreaming about college and what it would be like. Moving in, having late nights, gossiping about boys, eating too much junk food, and sharing clothes… Then Archer passed.

It’s weird. How much his absence affects everyone. Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s a selfish perspective, but no one can deny how everything changed. Even minute details I never thought would be affected. Like this. My relationship with Ophelia and how she’s distanced herself from everyone but Mav. I would never hold it against her, but finding a new normal and a new reality than the one we always talked about takes some getting used to.

“Well, tell Mav hi for me,” I add.

“I definitely will, but first.” She collapses onto the couch and pats the cushion beside her.

Giving her the side-eye, I sit on the edge.

“So…” Ophelia starts, and I brace myself. “Finley told me about your Cinderfella.”

With a groan, my face scrunches. “Please don’t call him that.”

“Why not?” she asks. “I kind of love the name.”

“And I kind of love being known as your fairy godmother,” Finley teases from the opposite end of the couch.

I hang my head in my hands, unable to form a response or argue with the delusion Finley wears like a second skin, so I stay quiet.

Ophelia nudges me. “Any progress finding the guy?”

“Not really,” I mutter into my palms and sit up again. “But I’m not holding my breath.”

“Why not?” she asks. “You finally felt chemistry with a guy. If finally feeling something for a guy isn’t worth digging into, I don’t know what is.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Finley interjects. “You should’ve seen Dylan afterward. She was all flushed and couldn’t stop checking out all the guys at the party. It was adorable.”

Leaning around Ophelia, I glare at Fin. “You know I want to smack you, right?”

“Come on, you know you love me.”

“Mm-hmm,” I hum, clearly unconvinced.

“Speaking of Cinderfella, were you able to cross Reeves off the list?” Finley adds.

She suggested I do my own sleuthing during the photo shoot, and even though I want to say yes I most assuredly crossed him off the list, the fact I almost kissed the dude and probably would’ve if Everett didn’t interrupt means…

“No freaking way.” Finley gasps. “Dude, you’re totally blushing.”

“I am not!”

“Oh, you most definitely are,” Ophelia agrees, scanning my face with a massive, knowing grin. “Then again, I’m pretty sure Reeves has this effect on everyone.”

“Yeah, he’s hot,” Finley chirps. “Does this mean Reeves is your Cinderfella?”

I hesitate but shake my head. “He said I’m crazy for fawning over a guy who’s too much of a coward to claim me without a mask to hide behind, so I’m gonna go with no.”

The girls grimace as Finley mutters, “Yikes.”

“Yeah, I don’t see Reeves calling himself a coward,” Ophelia admits. “Actually, I don’t see him being a coward in general. Hell, he was the only one who had the balls to stir the pot and convince Mav to give our relationship another try.”

“No, he’s not a coward,” Finley concludes. “But he did get under your skin during the photo shoot, am I right?”

My cheeks flame, and I cover my face with my hands again. “No comment.”

“Nuh-uh.” Ophelia reaches for my hands. “You can’t say no comment!”

“Lia’s right. Sorry, Dyl,” Finley adds. “The best friend rules state?—”

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