Page 48 of The Valentine's Bet

“Yeah, okay. Are you going, too? Because now I kind of want to go, just to see what happens. Wait ... is Brittany going?”

I eye him, giving my bestI might murder youlook. “I don’t know.”

Weston nods, grabbing his water and taking a long gulp. “Oh, I’mdefinitelygoing now. I already know it’s gonna be a wild time.”

Chapter Fifteen

Amy

“Ice skating sounds fun.” Nellie flashes me a bright smile as she leans against the office doorway. “Who are you going with?”

“Oh, it’s actually a singles event,” I answer. “But I’m going with my friend, Parker. He’s the one I told you works in tech. We’re kind of in the middle of a bet—which is a long story, but Parker thinks I can’t find a significant other in time for Valentine’s Day, and I’m convinced webothcan. So, I’m basically trying to set us up.”

“Ah. Well, if you want some help trying to win the bet, I actually have a single girlfriend I could send along for him. She’s into all that technology stuff. She’s very charismatic, too. She can pretty muchhit it off with just about everyone. I honestly don’t know how she’s even still single.”

I almost tell her no thanks but stop myself. There’s really no reason why I should decline. Parker made it clear that the kiss between us didn’t mean anything. He was just checking a box.

Which is why I haven’t told Eliza about it yet.

“Okay! Give her my number and we can meet up. I think it’ll make an impact if I bring someone along for him. It’ll blow his mind. And bring me one step closer to winning that bet.”

“Then consider it done.” She shoots me a wink and steps out of my office.

I stare at my phone once she leaves, trying to figure outwhythe idea of bringing a woman for Parker bothers me so much.

I don’t like him like that, and even if I did, hedefinitelydoesn’t like me ... right?

My eyes drift to the door, and I get up and shut it before pulling out my phone to call Eliza. I need to get my head on straight, and she’s the only one who seems to be able to help me through it. However, before I can even call her, my mom’s name flashes across the screen.

“Hello?” I answer and head back to my desk chair. I turn to face the skyline, enjoying the view of downtown from my office window. The buildings are alight with the glow of the setting sun, casting a warm hue over everything.

“Hey, I know you’re at work ... I just wanted to call and tell you that we miss you. Your dad keeps looking at flights to New York. Ithink he’s getting borderline obsessive with watching the prices. He says the moment a good deal comes through, he’s buying tickets.”

“Oh boy.” I giggle. “Well, I miss you guys, too. I’ve just been super busy with work and making new friends.”

“Oh, that’s great, honey. You haven’t really told us much about your new friends. What are they like?”

“I guess that’s because I’m still trying to get to know them.”

“Well, your dad and I have been dying to hear more about your new fancy life up there.”

“It’s not all that fancy.”

“Well, tell me more about these new friends.”

“Right, sorry,” I mutter, checking the time on my computer. Work will be over in about ten minutes, and then I’ll be heading to the ice skating rink. “The one I know the best is Parker.”

“Parker,” she echoes. “Girl?”

“No.”

She pauses. “Guy?”

“Yeah...” I say slowly. “But it’s not what you think. We aren’t dating or anything like that. I mean, wedidshare a kiss on New Year’s, but it was just because, you know, I’d never been kissed, and he felt bad for ruining my date—”

“He ruined your date and then kissed you?”

“Well, it sounds horrible when you say it like that, but he’s not that bad. He’s just kinda ... grumpy sometimes.”

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