Page 69 of The Valentine's Bet

If I’m jealous ofanything, it’s just her uncanny ability to try over and over again, never letting her previous bad experiences prevent her from going after what she wants.

It’s admirable, really.

Yeah, that’s probably it.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, expecting to see a work email or something, but instead, it’s a text from Amy.

Amy:Where’d you go?

Me:Out with my friends.

The three dots pop up on the screen, staying there for what feels like forever. I wait for her reply. Finally, it pops up.

Amy:Okay, have fun. Going on a coffee date with Brad. <3

My stomach knots up at the message and I close out of it, not bothering to reply. I don’t even know what to say to it, and when I look back up, both of my friends are staring at me.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Weston smirks. “You just look so ...intense.”

I shake my head. “Nah. It’s all good. Amy’s just going out with the guy she met tonight.”

“And you’re wishing that guy was you,” Derek deduces.

I laugh. “No way.”

Except ... the words don’t quite sit right in my chest.

Chapter Twenty-One

Amy

“So, you’re into late-night coffee dates, yeah?” Brad chuckles and slides into the opposite side of the booth.

I nod. “I think it’s romantic.” I try to read Brad’s face. He’s got this mysterious edge that I find fascinating—but I also don’t want to run him off with my hopeless romanticism.

“I think it’s sweet that you’re a hopeless romantic.” He picks up his coffee, which just so happens to be nearly the same shade as his hair. “There aren’t many left.”

“Maybe people just don’t want to admit to it,” I suggest, running my finger along the top of my caramel macchiato.

“Ah, that could be true.” Brad gives me a sparkling smile.

Ugh. He’s sofreaking handsome.

Suddenly, Parker flashes in my mind at the thought. I push it away. It doesn’t matter that Parker might be more handsome than most—or that I can’t stop wondering what he’s doing... Or if he’s okay after being doused by his date.

“Amy?” Brad’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Yes?” I look up from the creaming soft top of my coffee.

He laughs. “You were zoned out for a minute there. Are you tired? We can get out of here if you’re tired.”

I shake my head. “Oh no, not at all. I was just wondering how my friend is recovering after that whole scene back at the bar,” I admit, obviously leaving out the part about thinking how handsome Parker is.

“Yeah, I overheard a little bit of that conversation,” Brad muses, his eyes alight with humor as they stay focused on my face. “I’m pretty sure he got in trouble for checking out another girl.”

My brow furrows. “What? That doesn’t make much sense. He’s always been really respectful of women.”

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