Page 50 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

I knew she was right. Yes, Rob had the dirty mouth of a sailor. But he was also sweet and thoughtful and protective of me for some reason. He had gotten all the bracelets off of me after all. Not that I'd go so far as to say he was a gentleman.

"You aren't really going to stand there and deny that you like him are you?" Kristen said.

I scrunched up my face. They had cornered me. "Of course I like him. I'm just trying to say that it isn't worth pursuing."

"Momma Bear, happiness is worth pursuing." Her words made me feel cold. I knew that. I loved teaching. I loved living in New York. I was actively pursuing happiness. Wasn't I?

"Why are you guys pushing this so hard?" I asked.

"Because we want you to be happy," Alina said.

"And wearing this dress and flirting with a rich playboy is going to make me happy?"

"In the case of Rob Hunter, absolutely."

"I don't know." I sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Are you going to make me pull out my Bridezilla card, Daphne? Because it is my bachelorette party. And there is nothing I want more than to see you hook up with Rob."

"Ew. Why do you want to see that?"

She laughed. "I don't really. But I want to know it's happening somewhere in the hotel."

"You're all so bossy."

"That's because we love you," Kristen said. "Now, throw this on. Boys love when girls show some skin."

"He's already seen me in a bikini all day."

"Mhm. So don't disappoint him by wearing one of your parka-esque dresses tonight."

"Sundress. They're sundresses. Normal people wear them."

"Whatever. Tonight you're not being normal. You're being sexy Daphne. Who loves flirting with handsome bachelors and not fucking it up for her friend that is in love with Professor Hunter."

"You're not in love with Professor Hunter. You're such a psychopath."

"Why do I have a feeling that you're all going to embarrass me tonight?" Layla asked. "Fortunately I don't work with Mason anymore or this would be a nightmare."

Alina laughed. "Welcome to my life."

I scoffed. "Like what you did in Brazil didn't embarrass us," I said under my breath.

"I asked you not to talk about that. Ever. Now put on your whore dress and let's go. I warned you," she added when she must have seen my expression. "You've unleashed the Bridezilla within."

Kill me now.

Chapter 18

Rob

"Is he in the shower yet?" Mason asked as I walked back into the main room.

"Yup, the water just turned on." I sat down next to him on the couch. "I feel like it was poor planning on the girls' part to leave a crucial part of Penny's bachelorette party surprise to you."

"At the time, Bee didn't know I'd be in Costa Rica. But it works out well anyway. I'm just going to pretend to be worried I haven't heard from Bee and get Penny to go check on her. Boom. Surprise done."

"Isn't it kind of a dick move to ask her to check on Bee when you won't let her talk to James?"

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