“Nice to meet you, Amy.” I take her hand. Her rich brown hair, heart-shaped face, and striking, icy-blue eyes stand out immediately. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Well … that’s kind of a lie. I really haven’t, but Parker acted super nervous on the way over here, and now I know why. You’re totally beautiful.”
Her cheeks flush. “Thank you. You’re gorgeous.”
“Okay, don’t make this weird.” Parker huffs, rocking back on his heels. “Amy and I are just friends.”
He gives me a pointed look.
“Yeah, butlook at her.” I motion to Amy. “She’s freaking cute. Why are you not dating her? You guys would seriously make the cutest kids.”
“Remember that conversation we had about thinking before you speak?” Parker snaps.
I burst into laughter. “Oh, come on. Lighten up. It’s all in good fun.”
“I’m sorry in advance.” Parker gives Amy a weary look. “There’s nothing I can do about the comments she makes.”
She giggles. “It’s all in good fun.”
“Ooh … Now Ireallylike her!” I grab Amy’s arm and tug her toward the door. She laughs and goes with it, and I’m suddenly really glad Parker brought me along.
Maybe this night won’t just be about his stupid bet.
Maybe I just made a new friend.
The singles event iswaybigger than I expected, and the ice-skating rink is packed with a bunch of people who are all on the prowl. Well, it feels like that. The January NYC air cuts through my coat, and there’s something about seeing people arm in arm that makes my stomach hurt.
And my heart.
But Cal didn’t see the value in you, Brittany,I coach myself, taking a deep breath. Weston hasn’t even shown face, and I need to get out and start talking to people. I smooth out my cream-colored jacket and adjust my pale-pink beanie, glancing down at my fleece-lined black leggings. I look casual-cute, but I didn’t spend much time on my makeup or hair, letting it appear more natural than I might normally.
Confidence is key.
I know these things. I’m a lawyer. I know how to present myself in front of a crowd, so surely I can skate out onto the iceand find some random, lonely man who might just have a decent conversation with me. That’s more than what Cal offered.
I really need to stop thinking about Cal. He’s not even in my life anymore. He hasn’t returned a single phone call, and not once has he sent me a text to check in and ask how I’m doing. It’s like he literally just…
Forgot I existed.
“Hi.” A voice breaks through my hazy thoughts, and I turn to see a blond, fit guy, probably somewhere around my same age. “I’m Will.”
“Brittany!” I say my name with an enthusiasm I didn’t even know I could muster. “You wanna skate?” My question reminds me of the Sadie Hawkins Dance in high school, but I brush it off, relieved when he offers his arm. I glance over at Parker and see that he’s skating with some girl I don’t recognize.
Weird. He should be skating with Amy.
But Amy is with some other guy.
Double weird.
They’re both totally ignoring their chemistry, but there’s absolutely nothing I can do about that. My brother’s pessimistic attitude takes way more effort than it’s actually worth. I just figure, eventually, love will slap him upside the head.
“You know that guy?” Will clears his throat, his arm still out in an offer. “I don’t want to ruin your shot at the person you want.”
I turn back to him, meeting his hazel eyes and laughing. “That’s my brother. I havenointerest in him at all.”
“Oh, got it.” Will sounds relieved, wiggling his arm as if to remind me that he’s waiting. “Then we can skate, yeah?”
I nod, slipping my arm through his. It feels foreign to me, but I make myself do it anyway. It’s not like I think boys still have cooties. Well,boysmight still actually have them, butmendon’t.
Or maybe they do. It’s hard to say, really.
