Page 73 of The Roommate Experiment

Tristan tucks the ball under his arm against his side. “Are we talking hypotheticals or someone specific?”

“Someone specific.” I avoid providing a name.

He cocks his head. “Does she happen to live with you?”

I stare at him in shock—have I been that obvious?—and manage a curt nod.

Bouncing the ball once, Tristan returns it to the rack in the corner. “This conversation requires a beer, man. And I’ve got a small confession to make…” He trails off, heading for the door.

I swipe at the sweat trickling down my temple. “What confession?”

Tristan glances back, catching my gesture. “Shower first, then we’ll talk.” He disappears into the locker room.

I blow the hair away from my forehead and follow him. I’m not sure I’m ready to voice what’s been on my mind, but I need some perspective. Tristan figured out his feelings for my sister; he could help me untangle the confusing web of emotions Hunter stirs up in me.

* * *

“You didwhat?” I yell, almost spraying beer all over Tristan. A few heads turn our way, but I ignore them, focusing on my best friend with wide eyes.

The evening still clings to the day’s heat as we sit at an outdoor table at our favorite pub. Tristan winces dismissively. “Oh, come on.”

“Comeon? Are you being serious right now?” I’m not sure if I’m more outraged or flattered by the discovery. Flattered, definitely.

Tristan leans back on the chair, his face a picture of nonchalance. “Dude, the poor woman has been in love with you for years. So I gave Hunter a few tips on how to… you know, poke the bear a little. Where’s the harm in that?”

His words cut me off at the knees, leaving me unsteady. But underneath the shock, hope is blooming in my chest, warm and giddy.

I rub my temples, to process. “Back up. Did you say Hunter is in love with me?”

Tristan nods, a smirk playing on his lips. “She’s been carrying a torch for you from the moment she saw you, basking by the pool like the star of a sunscreen commercial, my golden boy.”

I’m reeling. Shocked, but more than that… elated. The secret attraction I’ve been harboring for Hunter and forced myself to ignore, to push down—she feels the same way? More? How do I even feel? AmIin love?

“H-how long have you known this?” I ask.

Tristan shrugs. “Only a few days. The instant I told Nina at breakfast on Sunday that you’d broken up with Olivia, she said Hunter needed a plan to seduce you.”

“She’s trying to seduce me?”

“Yep,” Tristan continues, “Nina is beyond happy, in case you’ve been wondering if she’s going to go apeshit crazy on you like you did with us. She told me she’s suspected Hunter’s crush for years.”

“And you discussed all this at breakfast in front of everyone?”

“No, this part came later.”

I scowl, the pieces clicking into place. “So when you gave Hunter the playbook on how toseduceme, you didn’t know she was in love with me.”

Tristan shrugs with a smirk. “Puh-TAY-toh, puh-TAH-toh.” A breeze coming in from the Hudson ruffles his dark hair.

The patio is alive with chatter and the sizzle of grilled meat, but I’m barely registering any of it.

“Hey, you shouldn’t complain.” Tristan gestures at me with his beer bottle. “If because of my actions, you’ve been seeing lots of Hunter’s legs and bare shoulders and long necklines unencumbered by hair…”

A smile tugs at my lips as my mind puts on a slideshow of all the cute, sexy outfits Hunter’s been wearing around the house. And the way she pulls her hair up in those messy buns I’m dying to pull loose…

It all started Sunday night. Makes sense now.

“And the socks.” I groan at another memory. This time, I do bite down on my fist, then grab a chip from the basket and toss it at Tristan. “You told her everything, didn’t you? Even about my thing for crew socks?”

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