Page 53 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

“Yeah,” I tell him, eating another chip as I hitch my heel up on the coffee table. “I see him most days, actually. It’s nice. I like spending time with him.”

“That so?” he says, drawing out the words.

“Mhm. Not that I don’t like hanging out with you, too!” I make sure to add, not wanting the dude to get jealous again. “It’s just different. He’s my baby kangaroo. But don’t call him that.”

“I…wasn’t planning on it.”

“We’re going on a date Thursday. Well, not him and me, obviously. Us and Logan.Himand Logan, but I’ll be there.”

“Sure,” he says faintly.

“I’m not leaving anything up to chance this time,” I explain. “I even vetted the guy.Extensively. We’ve been chatting every night for days.”

“Sure,” he says again, slower. “You weren’t talking to him through Joey’s dating profile, though, were you?”

“Yeah?”

There’s a brief pause. “Please tell me he knows he was talking toyou? Not Joey?”

“Oh, yeah, man,” I assure him, to which Jason puffs out a breath. “I just explained I’m Joey’s new bud and that I needed to make sure he passed muster before I let him at the goods. So far, he has. He’s nice, is open to marriage and kids, seems pretty cute, has a stable job doing tax prep, and he’s even got green eyes.”

“Joey likes green eyes?” Jason asks.

“Yep. Honestly, I think this guy might be the winner.”

And then, once Joey has his man, I dunno… Maybe I could focus on dating again, too. It’s kind of slipped my mind as of late.

“Can I ask you something?” Jason says, sounding serious.

Uh-oh.

“Sure?”

“Say Joey and this guy hit it off,” he says. “Maybe they start dating for real. And, maybe, Joey has less time for you. Would that bother you?”

I take a second to truly consider it, even as my gut churns uncomfortably.

“I mean, it’d suck, but I want him to be happy,” I answer. “I guess if that means I come second, I’d just have to be okay with that, right?”

Jason makes a small sound of acknowledgment, but the question sticks with me.

Because I don’t want to lose Joey’s time.

And, even though it makes no sense whatsoever, I don’t want to come second.

Chapter 14

Joey

“Joey-roo!” Brad says the moment I open the door. “Look! Look what I got you.”

He’s holding out a fanny pack.

In bright yellow.

With the nameBradwritten in jewels across the front.

“Is that…bedazzled?” I ask.

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