“I can’t believe I have a front-row seat to the whole thing right there in our workroom.” Hadleigh hides her smile with her hand, then throws me an apologetic glance.

I’m glad she’s amused. She’d better hope as the competition heats up between Damon and me that it doesn’t blow up right in our faces or she’ll get caught in the fallout.

“You’re way too giddy about it, Had. Let’s talk about something else. I’m just … done.”

From the way the quiet settles over our table, I can tell they know I’m a little thrown by the whole conversation.

Madison clears her throat. “Um. So, who wants to go try out the new barre class at the gym after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays? They’ve got a new instructor and I thought it sounded kind of fun.”

“Wait, what kind of class?” I wrinkle my nose. Bar class?

“You know, barre—like ballet for non-ballerinas.”

Multiple pairs of eyes around the table finally light with understanding.

“I used to do ballet. Sounds fun to me.” Quinn nods and sets down her mug. “I’m in.”

I squint at her, my lips pursed. “And you have the body for it, too—all tall and skinny.”

“Piper, you have a banging body. What are you moping about?” Hadleigh frowns, her forehead creasing.

Zoey pokes me in the upper arm. “Yeah, you’re adorable.”

I pout and point down at my sides. “My hips. I’ve never liked ’em. I swear, if I’d lived a century ago, I would have made, like, twenty babies.” My hands clench for a second before they release.

We al

l look at each other before we start snickering. Through our gales of laughter, I hear Madison whisper-shout, “She’s got birthing hips!” More giggles ensue.

Once we’ve finally calmed, Hadleigh gives me her signature naughty grin. “That’s a lot of babies, Piper. Sounds like you need to find the right man for that job.”

My hand freezes on my mug. I feel a tiny bit like a bad friend since I haven’t shared Prof.M. with them yet, but I’m just not ready. My body steadily warms as I think about the man who’s been making me laugh and smile lately, and I wonder what he’s like …

In bed.

Yes I know, I haven’t even met him. Haven’t looked into his eyes. Yet, somehow, I know that if it ever happens, it could be amazing. I pick my phone up off the table, desperately trying to avoid giving in and checking my messages.

I want to know if it’s him lighting up my phone, but I don’t dare look or everyone will want to know exactly who it is I’m chatting with. And they’ll know something is up because when I message him, I tend to grin like a lunatic. I can’t help myself.

With an exaggerated sigh, I steer us back to our conversation about the barre class and acquiesce. “Okay, I’ll go to that barre class. Who else is in?”

Quinn raises a hand. “I already said I’d do it. It’ll be fun.”

“Anyone else in?” Madison sits up, clapping her hands, excited to have us join her.

Sophia laughs. “Hard pass. I just don’t have time with wedding planning. You all have fun with it, though.”

“Zoey? Hadleigh?”

Zoey wrinkles her nose. “Ugh. you guys know me. I’m always at school until at least six. I don’t want to promise I’ll be there and then be a no-show.”

Hadleigh gives us her best yikes face. “You know, I wish I could, but time alone with Sawyer is kind of precious right now.”

Madison looks at me, then at Quinn. “Okay, then, ladies. I guess it’s the three of us. Be at the gym at four on Tuesday. We’ll see what it’s all about.”

I nod absentmindedly as I flip my phone over and glance down at Prof.M.’s latest message, already distracted. Again.