Page 116 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

“We’ll talk later,” Alex threatens cheerfully on his way to the door. “Remember.Every. Single. Detail.”

He waves his fingers in a goodbye, and I turn to Jason.

“I’ll live?” I check.

“To be determined,” my friend mumbles.

“So…you know a bunch of adult film stars,” Joey says, his lips quirking.

“They’re great guys,” I tell him. “Cas used to—”

“Yeah, I figured that out just tonight,” he says.

“Aw, look, Birdie,” I say to Jason, who’s washing his hands in the sink now. “Another person who’s seen your beau’s—”

“I dare you to finish that sentence,” he growls.

“He’s a little possessive,” I whisper to Joey.

Jason glares at me.

“Yikes. Okay,” I say, clapping my hands together. “Lemme smash this pita and hummus, and then we’ll get back out there to sell our bodies. Ourservices. We’ll sell ourselves for charity.Frick. You know what I mean.”

The rest of the auction goes off without a hitch. Joey raises an astounding twenty-five grand for his renovation services, likely in part due to my spectacular speech and subsequent fainting. He looks a little awed, but I’m not surprised in the least.

I don’t think he realizes just how easily he draws people in, like the smell of cinnamon rolls or,ooh, one of those big sunflowersyou can’t help but stop and stare at. Andholy freaking shit. I’m his bee!

“Hey,” I whisper to him as the master of ceremonies gives his closing speech. “Pst. Joey. Joey-roo. Wanna pollinate me later?”

He turns to me slowly.

“You know,” I hedge, bouncing my eyebrows. “With yourstamen. I’ll do a little”—I wiggle my fingers—“and you’ll give me your sunflower seed.”

Alex leans around Joey to stare at me.

“Maybe we should discuss our…stamens later?” Joey suggests.

I snort. “I’m a bee, dude. Not a flower. I don’t have a stamen in this scenario.”

“Then how would I pollinate—you know what? Never mind. The answer is going to be yes,” Joey concedes.

I fist pump.

“So. Amazing,” Alex whispers.

As the charity auction crowd starts to disperse, Cas hands each of us a card with contact info for our donors. My winner is named Eugenia Davis. Honestly, she looks like the type of person who could use a good hug. I hope our cuddle session helps her.

“You hungry?” I ask Joey. “I know it’s late, but I’m kinda craving dogs.”

His lips twitch. “Sure. We can grab some hot dogs on the way home.”

Home. I like that.

Neither of us has a chance to take a step, however, before a small body barrels into me. “So,” Alex says, strangling me as he hangs off my back. “I was discussing it with the guys, and we decided we should throw you a big gay coming-out party. What do you think? Do you love it?”

“We?” I ask around a grin, even as I struggle for breath.

I can practically feel Alex rolling his eyes. I met Alex and the rest of the Elite 8 Studios cast and crew when Jason and Cas started dating, and it didn’t take long whatsoever to learn Alex is a meddling meddler who meddles.

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