Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“By the way, thanks.” Jade winks. “I know my hubby is fine, and I don’t mind if you look.”
“What she said,” Palmer and Kennedy say at the same time, causing us all to laugh.
“I don’t know that it’s ever come up,” I answer Piper.
“Hmm.” She sips her drink.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “Just processing this new information. On second thought, fixing you up isn’t our best idea.”
I groan. “I’ve heard all of you admit the same thing before. Why is the heat all of a sudden turned my way?”
“Because you’re in denial,” Palmer replies.
“I’m not in denial. There has never been anything between Sterling and me outside of our friendship. He’s been my best friend since we were kids. That’s it.”
“Then explain why his eyes follow you everywhere you go?” Ramsey asks.
“He’s protective. I’m more like a little sister.”
“I call bullshit,” Jade replies.
“I say we test this theory,” Kennedy chimes in.
“Oh.” Palmer points at her. “I like the way you think.”
“Fine.” I huff out a laugh. “There is nothing to test, but if you ladies want to try, go right ahead.” I shrug, knowing damn good and well it’s going to be a wasted effort on their part.
Sterling is my best friend. I love him, but that’s all we are. Is he hot as sin? Yes. Have I thought about more with him. Yes. I’m human, and the younger me romanticized about us being more hundreds of times. Adult me, rational me, knows that’s not going to happen. We’ve been friends for over twenty years. We’ve had plenty of time to change our relationship status, and neither of us has ever attempted to do so.
“You’re wasting your time,” I tell the group.
“This is going to be fun.” Ramsey grins.
“Your idea of fun is skewed, my friend,” I tease.
“I can’t wait to watch him get all jealous,” Piper tells me.
I just shake my head at them. He’s not going to get jealous. I can only assume their earlier offer to set me up with someone is how they’re going to prove their theory. I’ve dated lots of guys, just none that I want more with. Sterling knows this and doesn’t care. He warns me about safety. He tells me not to let them pick me up at my place, definitely not on the first date, always carry my Mace, and if at any time I need him, I’m to call him. No questions asked. Never once has he shown an ounce of jealousy over a man in my life.
“Pick.”
I turn to look at Palmer, and she has a smug look on her face. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, this is good.” Ramsey grins.
“It’s our thing. You have to pick which Kincaid brother you would choose for your own.”
“That’s crazy.”
“We’ve all done it,” they remind me. “Well, except for Piper. She already had her eye on Heath.”
“I’m not choosing. That’s ridiculous.”
“You have to pick,” Ramsey tells me. “That’s the only way.”
“The only way what?”
“It’s the only way the universe will know,” Jade replies.
“I love you, all of you, but you ladies have lost your damn minds.” I chuckle. They all stare at me with these creepy-ass, knowing smiles on their faces.
“Stop.”
“Pick,” Kennedy says softly.
“You.” I point at her. “I never once pressured you with Declan.”
She shrugs. “I chose. He’s now my husband.” She places her hand over her pregnant belly. That’s an entirely different story for another day. Let’s just say that she and Declan had a major curveball sent their way, but they are happier than they have ever been.
“I chose Declan.” Kennedy grins. “You didn’t have to pressure me.”
“Come on. Just between us. If you had to pick one of the single brothers, which would you choose?” Piper asks.
“You realize this is insane, right?” There is only one brother I would choose. My best friend is the greatest man I know. He’s more than just his looks. He’s a hard worker, he loves his family, and he’s my rock. There isn’t a single good memory in my life that Sterling hasn’t been a part of.
“Come on. Humor us.”
“Don’t we have more shopping to do?” I evade. I don’t care that it’s obvious. I can’t choose, and not just because I don’t want them to romanticize our relationship more than they already are. I don’t want to let my mind think that there might be a sliver of a chance. Teenage Alyssa struggled with that. Adult Alyssa knows better and has accepted that he will be in my life forever as my best friend. I’m good with that.
“We do,” Jade agrees.
“What do you have left to get?” Piper asks.
“I still want some new lingerie for the honeymoon,” Ramsey tells us.
“And I need to get something for Blakely,” Kennedy says. “Declan tells me that I’m spoiling her, but I feel bad that I didn’t bring her with me today.”