Page 22 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

"Do you think I should go over there?"

"That depends on what you're planning to do," Alina said and crouched down next to us. "He's engaged, remember?"

"I wouldn't do anything weird," Kristen hissed. "I just want to talk to him."

"You guys?" Layla said.

"Not now, Layla," Kristen replied. "Okay, we need a game plan. Maybe we should just go get those seats next to him?"

Layla laughed and crouched down next to us. "I know one of the guys that he's with. We can walk over and I can say hi and do introductions."

"Which one do you know?" I stood up to look at the group of guys, but Kristen immediately pulled me back down.

"Stop being obvious, Daphne!" Kristen said.

I laughed.

"Mason Caldwell. He runs the marketing campaigns for Sword Body Wash. He helped me become their celebrity endorsement. He's a marketing genius. Actually, he's the reason why we can afford to be here." She laughed. "I owe him a huge thank you. I'm glad we're going to run into him."

"Wait, let me get this straight," Kristen said. "The whole time you knew me, you knew a friend of Professor Hunter's and didn't tell me? You're pure evil, Layla!"

"I didn't even know about this weird crush you have on Professor Hunter until yesterday. Well, at least, how big of a crush it was. And I didn't put the connection together until I just saw Mason."

"So does that mean that it's definitely Professor Hunter over there?" Kristen asked. She suddenly looked nervous.

"Most likely. Hey, maybe he's here for his bachelor party."

Kristen frowned. "Don't remind me."

"If we go over there, you have to promise not to embarrass me, though."

"Why does everyone assume I'm going to be awful? I'm always completely normal around Professor Hunter."

"Mhm," Alina said.

"Tell them, Daphne," Kristen said.

I shrugged. "I never had a class with you and him. I have no idea how you acted. I just know that you talked about him nonstop and made me sit outside of his apartment building a few times. Because you're a stalker," I whispered.

Kristen frowned again. "I'm not going to be weird. I haven't seen him in a few years. And I'm dating Tim. I'm in love with Tim. I just think it would be rude to not say hi. That's all."

"Fine, but I'm not spending my whole bachelorette party stalking him with you."

"I promise that won't happen. I cross my heart and hope to die." She made a cross over her chest as she said it, to prove how serious she was.

"Great. So, does this mean we can stop hiding and being weird?" I asked and stood up.

"I guess so," Layla said and stood up beside me.

Alina stood up and pulled Kristen up too.

"Just act super normal, everyone," Kristen said.

"I don't think we're the ones anyone's worried about," Alina responded.

She swiftly got an elbow in the ribs.

I followed the three of them to the other side of the pool, making sure my towel was covering up my bracelets and was in front of my inappropriate bikini. Not that I had anything to worry about. Professor Hunter was engaged and I knew enough about Mason Caldwell from tabloids to know that he had been dating a beautiful blonde for a couple of years. Professor Hunter and Mason had both been New York bachelor royalty. One of the other guys with them was just as gorgeous as Mason. They looked pretty similar, but he was definitely younger. Maybe they were related?

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