Page 6 of Built to Last

I shake my head. “No, I’m good.” I look down at my hands, folded in my lap. “I have a date. Sort of.”

They’re both looking at me, obviously excited for me.

“Okay, it's not really a date. Well, I mean, it's kind of a date.”

They both laugh. “Just spill the tea,” Jilly says.

I blow out a breath. “I don't know. It's with Finn.” I wince as I glance over at Jillian and she just looks up at me. There's no like shock and awe orwhat do you mean you're going out with my brother? Nothing. She just looks at me as if waiting for the rest.

“Makes sense,” Ally says with a nod.

“No, not like that. Finn offered to help me,” I clarify. “You know to get Chet’s attention. Since Chet is still not really noticing me.” I wave my hands dismissively. “I was reading this article in Cosmo and aside from doing the big makeover—which you know I'm against—the most helpful tip was that men want what other men have.”

Jilly shrugs, then nods. “Works every time. Men are still basically toddlers wanting whatever toy the others have.”

Ally laughs. “My toddlers are basically like that. Coop only gets jealous that the baby gets more boob time than he does.”

We all laugh. “I thought that maybe I could just make Chet notice me by flirting with Finn. But then Finn suggested that he and I go out to the office happy hour tonight. Which, did you know that everyone in my lab goes to happy hour every Friday? I’ve never been invited to go. Not once.”

“Would you have gone if they’d asked?” Ally says.

“Well, no, probably not. You know how I feel about like, people and crowds and dark places and it's probably, you know,” I shrug, “loud and boozy.”

Both my friends laugh. “I love you, Sadie. Please don’t ever change,” Jilly says.

That makes me smile. “You know bars are just not my scene. I'm more of a, sit atThe Sea Glassand have brunch with my girls, kind of girl.”

“Same,” my friends say in unison.

“Uh, so, did you want Jillian's permission to fake date her brother?” Ally asks.

I glance over at Jilly again. “No,” I say carefully. “I just thought that maybe y'all could help with pointers or tips.” I shrug again. “I mean, I've never really done this.”

“You've been on dates before,” Jillian points out.

“Yes, a handful of first dates. I got the impression Finn wanted us to make it look like we’ve been a couple for a bit. And y’all know me, I’m just awkward.”

“I remember first dates,” Ally says with a hint of wistfulness.

“Well, we can't all have our smoking hot best friend secretly in love with us for years, and then offering to marry us so that we can have a baby on their insurance plan.” Then I put my hand over my mouth because what is wrong with me? I don’t begrudge any of my friends their happiness. “I’m sorry, Ally. I don’t know why I said that. I know that’s not how it actually happened with you and Cooper.”

She shakes her head and reaches over to squeeze my hands. “That’s more or less how it happened. I’m the first to admit that I was an idiot. Completely blind to what was literally right in front of my face.”

“We tried to tell you,” Jilly says.

My friends exchange meaningful looks that I’m unsure how to interpret. “Sometimes you have to just go through things to really see the truth,” Ally says. “Doesn’t erase my irritation. I mean we could have been having hot sex for years.” She shakes her head. “Such an idiot.”

“Jilly?” I say. “Do you care if I go out with your brother?”

“Of course not. Finn knows what he’s doing so just trust him tonight. He’ll take care of you.”

The idea of letting Finn take care of me shoots off sparks through my entire body. Pretty sure that’s not what his sister means. It’s hard to ignore how masculine and swoony Finn is. I mean, I’m inexperienced, but I’m still a red-blooded woman who knows a sexy man when she sees one.

“Yeah, just go and have fun. See what happens,” Ally says.

Jilly agrees.

“Keep an open mind,” Ally continues. “You never know what life might give you when you least expect it.”

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