Page 82 of Surprisingly Us

Is this dating? Waiting anxiously for a guy to text you back? And stressing about why he’s not? Well, screw that. I need to clear the air. And when I say clear the air, I mean have the extremely awkward conversation via text message so it doesn’t require me to stare at Rhys’s gorgeous face while we talk about my vibrator.

Colette:Are we going to talk about this morning?

CHAPTER 24

Rhys

My phone buzzes with a text from Lettie.

Princess:Are we going to talk about this morning?

I still haven’t responded to her text from earlier.

After running into Hunter and his friends at the NYC Racquet Club, he invited me to grab a beer. I don’t play tennis, but everyone who’s anyone has a membership there. Most of the foundation board are members here, so making appearances here is important to my efforts to connect with them.

“Should we address the elephant in the room?” Hunter asks.

I glance up from my phone. “What?”

“You and Colette. Hannah comes home tomorrow, and let’s just say my sister doesn’t love surprises unless they’re for other people.”

“Lettie said the same thing, but I’m not sure what else there is to say. We’re dating. It’s that simple.”

“Lettie’s like a second sister to me.” He motions to Griffin. “We already know how protective you are of Sophie.”

From the way they’re smirking at each other, I can tell there’s a story here.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Griffin found out I was seeing Sophie behind his back and we ended up in a fight out on the terrace.”

“It wasn’t only the fact you were seeing her behind my back. She was twenty-two and pregnant, of course I was angry.” Griffin’s gaze softens. “Can’t imagine not knowing those babies now.”

He’s referring to Hunter and Sophie’s twin girls.

I look between the guys. “So you think Hannah’s going to kick my ass?”

“Wait a minute.” Hunter holds up a finger. “There was no ass kicking.”

Barrett chuckles. “I was there. Griffin kicked your ass.”

“I tripped and fell,” Hunter insists.

Griffin smirks, pressing his lips together, but I can see the shake of his chest, holding in laughter. “Sure.”

“We’re not talking about me right now.” Hunter turns his attention back to me and his face turns serious. “What are your intentions with Colette?”

The other guys go quiet, their eyes on their drinks in front of them.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for her, and now that we’re older, it’s more.”

For a fake relationship, I’d expected my answer to require more thought to make it convincing, but like it’s second nature, it easily rolls off my tongue. Even if my relationship with Lettie is fake, that statement right there holds many truths.

Hunter nods, considering it. “I know you were protective of her growing up, but as her official surrogate big brother, I’ll have to make your life hell if you hurt her.”

“Understood.” I nod, before taking a sip of my beer.

When I get home later, I settle in on my couch and turn on the television to a rerun ofHow I Met Your Mother.It’s one of my favorite shows, but I mute it because I know all the episodes, and I need to focus to respond to Lettie’s text.

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