Page 41 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Well, we’re friends now. Helping each other get good dates is all a part of that.”

“I’m still not clear on why you aren’t already getting them.”

“And you thinkI’mthe flatterer?” Piper asked with a smirk.

August rolled her eyes. “Just calling it how I see it.”

Piper grinned and nodded towards her building. “We’re up here.”

“Massima’s not going to mind me just bursting in?”

“She’s not home. But she will be devastated that she missed you being here.”

“Your friends sure know how to make someone feel like a celebrity.”

Piper laughed. She supposed she could see that. They were clamoring to meet August, after all. And Massima would have loved to be the first to do so.

She led August up through the building and to her apartment, throwing the door open with a flourish. If her friends were going to make August feel like a celebrity, she was going to have to keep up.

“Nice place,” August said, banging the remaining snow off her boots before she stepped inside.

Piper waved the compliment off, but she was glad August liked it. August could say what she wanted about Piper being cool and collected, but she still felt like August was the coolerone between them—and spending more time with her wasn’t doing anything to challenge that perception.

August wandered through the apartment to the kitchen, stopping by the fridge and turning to Piper with her eyebrows raised.

Piper smirked and gestured for her to go ahead.

She laughed and pulled the freezer door open, not taking her eyes off Piper. Once it was open, she glanced away and quickly back. “Food, huh?”

“Disappointed?” Piper asked, holding back a laugh.

“Not yet. I haven’t checked your bedroom yet. This could all be part of your ruse.”

“I should tell you, it usually takes a few more dates before I invite women into my bedroom.”

August blanched, then blushed rapidly, and groaned. “I didn’t mean—”

“I know.” Piper laughed. “I just couldn’t resist.”

“Oh, my god.”

“But…” She walked towards her bedroom door and held her arm out. “While we’re on the topic, have at it.”

August shook her head, but she walked past Piper into the room, looking around at the decor before her gaze settled on the bed. “Doesn’t look much like a freezer.”

“No? Shame.”

“Is it?” she asked with a laugh.

Piper fell backwards onto the bed, her legs hanging off the end. “Not at all. This is much more comfortable than I imagine a freezer is.” She patted the spot next to her and turned her head to smile as August landed beside her. “Okay. Should we look at these messages?”

August groaned slightly as she pulled her phone out. “Don’t laugh, okay?”

“I won’t,” Piper promised earnestly.

August nodded, unlocked the phone with her fingerprint, and handed it to Piper without even navigating to the app. Piper was impressed with the level of trust.

She didn’t have to search for it, though. August had a notification. Piper clicked on it and smiled at August. “I think you might be doing better than you give yourself credit for.”

---