Page 15 of Into the Woods

She shot me a look. “B, I was teasing him about losing a race to… I don’t even remember his name, and you accidentally spilled an entire glass of lemonade on me.”

I sniffed. “I tripped.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Whatever you say.”

Sighing, I rested my elbows on my knees. “No, he didn’t grow up as gorgeous as you’re thinking.”

“That’s disappointing.”

“He’s even hotter,” I lamented, dropping my head into my hands as I remembered an all-grown-up Court and exactly how he looked.

Those long, gangly limbs had filled out and were thick with muscle. Every time I saw him, it looked like he was one flex away from his biceps ripping through his t-shirt. He was seriously tall, and absolutely had the dark and broody thing going for him.

But it wasn’t like I was the only one who’d noticed—even Cori had met his latest bedfellow.

I rubbed my chest, a physical ache hitting me right in the feels at the idea of him with someone else.

This was exactly why I needed Camille.

“So, what’s the problem?” Cami was still giggling.

“The problem is he’s a goddamn liar and a freaking manwhore, and I can’t spend the rest of my life hoping for something that’s never going to happen.” I wasn’t sure if I was angry or sad. I wanted to throw the bottle of champagne against the wall and break down in tears.

Cami stopped laughing. “Oh, honey.”

“I need to forget he ever existed.” I took a deep breath. “And I need you to help me do it.”

CHAPTER 5

BEX

The grin that split Camille’s face was terrifying. One of those smiles that basically said I was screwed. Like she’d been waiting for the day I handed her the reins to my life.

Without saying a word to me, she pulled her phone out of a hidden pocket in her leggings and pressed a button before lifting it to her ear. “Hey, baby. Remember how you were asking me if I had a friend for your brother since he’s back in town?”

Panic struck like a lightning bolt, and I jumped up. “No!”

She held me off with a hand and a stern look as she kept talking. “It just so happens that my cousin has decided to spend a few months in Paris, and I think Eric would love her.”

“Cami! Stop it,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice down.

She pushed me away and slid off the seat, dancing away like she was, well, a dancer. “I’m hanging out with Bex now, honey. I’ll call you later.” She hung up as I jumped and tried to snag the phone.

“Seriously? A blind date?” I demanded.

She shot me an incredulous look. “Uh, you’re welcome.”

I resisted the urge to grab another pillow and whack her across her gorgeous face. Instead I threw my arms in the air with a disbelieving scoff. “Cam, the last thing I want is some pity date with your boyfriend’s brother. I’m not that desperate.” Yet.

“Okay, slow down, B,” she told me, her eyes big as she sat back down and reached for the champagne. She passed it to me.

I didn’t even think before lifting it to my lips and gulping.

“First, Eric just moved back to Paris after being away at boarding school and then college, where he got his MBA or something,” she started.

“Code for he looks like a bridge troll,” I groused.

Cami lifted a brow and swiped through her phone until she found what she wanted, then she passed the device to me. “Does he look like a troll to you?”

---