Page 11 of I Can't Help It

But the problem here is that Sloane has mixed feelings about Luke and me.

Sometimes she’s our biggest shipper, while other times she’s trying to convince me that I should go out with one of Harvey’s friends.

FYI: Harvey is Sloane’s husband of almost two years.

FYI, again: I’m not interested in anyyyyy of Harvey’s friends.

There’s nothing wrong with them—I’m assuming—but they aren’t Luke.

So, yeah, I get whiplash from never knowing what Sloane’s reaction is going to be when I talk about Luke. I just hope for the best. I try not to expect the worst, though, because I like to think positive.

I hand her the bag of candy pumpkins that I bought for our movie night, and I attempt to be nonchalant. “It’s Luke’s number. For a work thing.”

Ooh, nice touch.

Then, I turn away so she can’t see the grin on my face. Because I know what I look like. I look like a kid who peeked at her presents early and doesn’t feel the slightest bit guilty about it.

“Ava. You didn’t.”

Andddddd she’s not in a #TeamLuke mood.

Noted.

“It’s for a work thing,” I repeat myself, now turning my attention back to her. “It’s not like we’re going on a date.”

We’re just going somewhere. For almost a week. Only the two of us. Something that could and SHOULD be romantic…no big deal.

I bite my lip to keep myself from grinning again.

She crosses her arms. “What work thing?”

Hoping to win her over, I explain Colton’s plan.

But I most definitely don’t tell her that Luke was unenthusiastic about said plan. I also don’t tell her that I low-key flirted with him. Or that he seemed unaffected by my said flirting. She already has enough to lecture me about.

Sloane blinks at me. “Why didn’t you just give him your address instead of asking for his number?”

“Sloane!” I whine as she rips open the bag of candy pumpkins. “Come onnnn. I didn’t get his number to send him sexy texts or anything!”

“Oh, that reminds me,” she says, her brown eyes widening, “I need to text Harvey back.”

I try not to gag. “SLOANE.”

Am I a grown woman? Yes.

Does that mean I want or need to know about—ugh—sexy texts between my best friend and her husband? 110% no.

“Calm down, I’m not going to text him while you’re here. That would be freaking weird.” She pops some candy pumpkins in her mouth. “Anyway, back to you and Luke. This doesn’t sound like ‘just a work thing,’ Av. It sounds like you’re scheming again.”

“I’m testing the waters,” I reply with a shrug. “Is it so horrible that I want to know if he’s into me too?”

“Yes, because he’s best friends with your EX.” And then she stomps over to the living room. “Relationships are complicated enough without borrowing that kind of extra trouble.”

“Wyatt and I ended things on good terms,” I remind her as I also make my way to the living room. “So, why would it be a bad thing if Luke and I started dating?”

“I mean, how would you feel if I dated Wyatt?”

I grab the remote off their coffee table. “Well, you’re married to Harvey, so I would be concerned if you were dating Wyatt.”

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