I force a smile. “Small world, huh?”

Sierra and Kelsea exchange puzzled looks but don’t comment on this weird encounter. The next thing I know, Sierra is dragging Kelsea to her bedroom and closing the door.

I’m dumb enough to think TJ is going to call it a night and leave, seeing as he knows his sister is safe with me, but I’m reminded of who I’m dealing with when he says, “What’s for dinner?”

So… I guess that means he’s staying.

I don’t believein coincidences.

There has to be a reason why this guy turns up everywhere.

There has to be something drawing us together, otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting on my couch, eating all of my popcorn and bitching about the romantic comedy I chose.

I settled in the living room to watch a chick flick from the moment we finished dinner. I did warn him before I pressed Play, but he said he didn’t mind.

He’s been calling the characters’ next moves the entire movie, and sure, I’ll admit romance movies can be predictable, but I’d prefer if he didn’t spoil everything for me.

“You aresoannoying, you know that?” I throw a pillow at his head when the end credits start rolling.

He shrugs. “Thanks. You want more popcorn?”

A smile creeps onto my lips.

I’m careful not to let him see it, whispering to myself, “Unbelievable.”

With that, he proceeds to the kitchen and throws another bag of popcorn into the microwave.

“Did you hear the gossip?” TJ asks from the kitchen.

“What gossip?” I rise up and grab my empty glass off the coffee table. This popcorn is extremely salty, and I’m parched.

“Chance and Bethany broke up.” He’s so casual about it, dropping a massive bombshell on me like it’s weather talk.

“They did?” I fail to swallow my gasp. “But they seemed so perfect for each other. What happened?”

I meet him in the kitchen, stopping a few steps away as he leans back against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Chance slept with Heather.”

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m grateful TJ inhaled that bowl of popcorn because I’d be choking to death right about now.

“He did what?” I shriek, picturing Bethany’s reaction to her best friend sleeping with her boyfriend.

I’m not surprised about Heather. She’s always been the type to go after taken men, even when that man is dating her oldest friend, apparently, but Chance? I always thought of him as a good, stand-up guy.

“How could he do that to her? Doesn’t he love her?”

“He says he does. He and Beth had a big fight, and Heather put the moves on him when he was wasted. He says he doesn’t even remember sleeping with her.”

“Wait, wasn’t Heather seeing Aaron?”

Last I heard, these two were all over each other at last week’s party—the one I didn’t go to because I was sick and dying.

“Nah, they’re done. He told her he likes someone else.”

The amused expression gleaming in his eyes meets the curiosity in mine.

I turn to fill up my glass with water, my back facing him. “Did he say who?”