Page 11 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Jason rubs his forehead, looking pained. “I’m not answering that.”

“Like you’d even know,” I say, trying to glance behind me.Fuck, where’s a mirror? “You only have eyes for your guy.”

Jason gives Cas a smile that’s so sweet I nearly swoon. My best bud. Such a sap these days.

“Hey, Cas. Do I have a banging ass?” I ask, spinning around.

Jason practically leaps in front of me. He tries to shove me out of the room, but I hold my ground. “I regret inviting you here,” he grumbles, pushing at my shoulders.

“You don’t,” I shoot back.

“You have a perfectly nice ass,” Cas says evenly, not even looking my way.

Jason growls, and I back up fast. I don’t want to get bitten.Again.

“Anyways,” I say loudly, skirting around Cas to grab the last few slices of salami. “Joey’s cool. And he wasnotchecking out my ass, thank you very much. At least, I don’t think. And don’t worry, Cat-man. He’s not replacing you, either. I have plenty of room in my heart for more than one gym-bro. I’m polygymorous.”

“That’s…also not a thing,” Jason says. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll stay out of it. But don’t be surprised if I send you a big fatI told you soin the future.”

I reach around Cas to pat Jason’s head. “Not everything is about sexual attraction, Birdie.” As my ace friend should well know. “Joey’s cool. Believe me. I’ll make sure you guys meet.”

Jason continues doing that narrow squint thing, but he finally nods, swatting my hand away when I try to pat his face.

My phone pings, and I pull it out of my pocket with a triumphant, “Aha! Here he is now.” I grin as I read Joey’s text.

Joey-roo: Would you want to grab dinner with me tomorrow?

“Dinner with my new bud,” I mutter aloud. Jason shoots Cas a look, but I ignore my pessimistic bestie and type back.

Me: You bet! Want to pick me up, or should I meet you there?

Joey-roo: I’ll pick you up, and we can walk, if that works?

Sure does. I send Joey my address.

Yep. This is going to be my year—I can feel it. My year to find myself. Maybe try something new.

And my new bud Joey? I think he’s just the beginning.

Chapter 4

Joey

I try to quell my nerves as I stand at Brad’s door, but I can’t quite manage it. I like the guy. Way more than I should for having hung out with him for all of an hour and a half. I want this date to go well.

Of course, we need to actually goonthe date for that to happen.

With that in mind, I take a deep breath and knock. Brad already buzzed me up, so it only takes a moment for him to open his door. And when he does, my breath promptly leaves my lungs.

Brad is wearing a black shirt tonight, the dark color setting off his light eyes even more. His jeans fit him snugly in a way that has me fighting the urge to touch. And there’s a beaming smile on his face because of course there is.

He’s beautiful.

Brad steps into the hall to give me a hug. It doesn’t last half a minute this time, but that’s okay.

“Joey Kangaroo,” he says happily as we part.

“Hi,” I manage.

---