“I don’t think so, Geoff.” Cat chuckles. “It’s a gimmick.” She points to the bottom of the box where there’s small text in a language I don’t recognize. Yeah, this is definitelynotofficial John Stamos merchandise.
I reach to put the box back but before I can, Alex snatches it from my hand and wheels around, heading for the counter. “I’m getting this for you,” she calls over her shoulder.
“What? No!” I trail after her but she’s already handing her credit card across to the salesperson.
“Oh, come on! I wanted to thank you for helping with the wedding, and now, John Stamos can helpyou.” She waggles her eyebrows and chortles at her own joke. Before the sales assistant can even wrap the item, Alex hands it to me with a flourish. “Enjoy!”
I stare at her outstretched hand, recoiling. But she thrusts the box towards me and I stuff it in my bag, trying to ignore my burning cheeks. “Thanks… I guess.”
When we exit the store, to say I’m relieved is an understatement. “Where are we going next?” I ask Alex warily as we step onto the sidewalk. “A strip club? Or maybe a pole-dancing class?”
“That sounds fun,” Cat says and Alex laughs.
“Oh, shit.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out her phone, looking at the screen. “I have to take this. I might be a minute.” She steps away and Geoff turns to me with a smile.
“You seem to be feeling better today. Have you sorted things out with that guy, then?”
Cat glances between us. “What guy?”
“No one,” I mumble. Geoff gives me a knowing look and I sigh. “Okay, there was someone, but nothing is happening. Even if—” I pause, eying them both. Icannotreveal any details about Luke; these are Alex’s best friends.
“Even if?” Geoff prompts.
“Even if… I sort of wish there were.” Oh God, what’s wrong with me? I’m supposed to beangrywith Luke about this mess we’re in, so why am I still letting myself replay our time on the plane in an endless loop through my head? I’ve tried to stop but it’s a losing battle. Yesterday I saw a different side to him—a geeky, color-coding, book-and-game-loving side I didn’t know was there—and it’s making things difficult.
“I knew it!” Geoff leans closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Spill.”
A laugh chuffs out of me. “Okay, fine.” I glance to check that Alex is out of earshot. “There’s this guy I kind of like, even though he’s off-limits.”
“Right. First up, define ‘kind of like,’” Geoff says.
I chew my lip, watching a passing car as I think of the way I get all hot and flustered whenever I’m around Luke. “I can’t stop thinking about him,” I mutter. “Every time I see him—”
“So he’s here in the city?” Cat interrupts.
Shit. I’ve said too much.
Geoff lifts an eyebrow. “How do you know him?”
Shit, shit, shit. I’ve definitely said too much.
“Oh, well…” My heart is stammering now as I steal a glance at Alex. She’s engrossed in a heated conversation on her phone and I turn back to the others. How can I explain this? How on earth would I know a guy over here? Unless… “It’s the guy from the plane.”
“Oh!” A wicked grin splits Geoff’s face. “Mister hot plane lover.”
I blush furiously.
“So, what’s the problem?” Cat asks. “What do you mean he’s off-limits?”
I fold my arms across my chest and study the sidewalk. There’s no way I’m going to tell them that the guy I shagged on the plane turned out to be married. God knows what they’d think of me if they knew that. And that’s before we get to the fact that he’s Michael’s brother and the best man at their wedding.
God. I should never have said anything.
“It’s… complicated,” I say, to borrow Luke’s woefully inadequate terminology. I remind myself of my decision to prioritize Alex and the wedding, and straighten up. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. That’s not why I’m here.”
Geoff grins. “No reason you can’t still see him.”
I shake my head. “No, Alex needs to come first.” Thinking of Alex, I glance at them in alarm. “Please don’t say anything to her. I don’t want her to think—”
