Page 13 of Pinky Promises

I chug the last of my drink and rest my arms on the table. “Okay, Zo, lay it on me.”

“Since they broke up, that means she won’t have a date for the wedding, so why don’t you be her date.”

“Umm, but you’re my date.” When Lexi sent out the wedding invitations, I thought it would be fun to ask Zoe to be my date. Have fun as friends, dance a little, eat way too much, and then not have to worry about random wedding guests hitting on me. It was kind of a win-win.

“Oh yeah, about that. I can’t go anymore.”

“Since when? The wedding is in a week.” She’s justnowtelling me this? “I thought you said you found the perfect dress, too.”

“Well, I did. It’s beautiful.”

What am I missing here?

She snaps her fingers in my face. “Focus, Cal.” She takes a dramatic deep breath and relaxes her shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter why I can’t go anymore—I justcan’t.All Brynn needs to know is that I can’t. You can swoop in and ask her instead. You two can go as friends… or who knows, maybe a mix of some drinks and dancing and romance and bada bing bada boom—” Zoe does this weird happy dance with her fingers pointed out as pistols. “—you two end up in bed together. Just be sure to send me a nice thank-you card if you guys end up with the latter option.”

She settles back into her chair and smirks as she brings her cup to her lips, only to frown when she realizes it’s empty.

Okay, so her plan might be a little crazy, but it’s a good one, especially for just coming up with it on the spot. There’s only one problem. “I don’t want just to end up in bed with her. I want all of it, her bodyandher heart.”

I look up to find Zoe staring at me with her mouth partially hanging open. I know she’s not gaping at me for the fact that Brynn and I share a bed at times; she already knew that. It’s not only the confession that came after that shocked her, but me having no issue speaking it aloud. “You’ve got it bad, buddy.”

I rest my head in my hands and run my fingers through my hair before lifting my gaze to meet hers. “Tell me something I don’t know. What part of I’ve been in love with her for forever didn’t you get?”