I winced. Because yes. That had absolutely been an option. One that would have probably left me with sleepless nights, an ulcer, and me biting my nails.
Master Troy leaned forward slightly, elbows on the bar in front of him, eyes steady on mine. “We’re all here to explore connections. If you’re feeling something with other people, that means you’re actually doing this right.”
“Besides,” Master Archie added with a teasing smile, “if we bolted every time someone admitted they had options, none of us would still be sitting here.”
That pulled a laugh out of me before I could stop it.
Master Troy reached across the table. His fingers brushed mine. “Thank you for telling us. Really. That takes guts. And,” he continued, voice warm but steady, “I’d still very much like to continue this date. If you’ll let me.”
Master Archie raised a brow. “Us,” he corrected mildly.
I blinked between them, surprised again by the easy way they existed together. Something inside my chest loosened.
“You’re sure?” I asked quietly.
Master Troy’s smile turned just slightly wicked. “Hope, if we ran at the first sign of competition, we wouldn’t deserve you.”
Master Archie clinked his glass lightly against mine. “So. Are we moving on to one of the restaurants and ordering food with our drinks, or are we going to sit here and admire your pretty blue dress all night?”
And just like that, the air felt lighter.
Chapter Eleven
Archie
I noticed her before she noticed me.
Of course I did.
She walked into the room like she wasn’t trying to command attention, and somehow she had my full attention, anyway. Nothing about her was loud or flashy, but she had a presence about her that was undeniable.
From the way Troy straightened, he saw her a second later.
The smile that spread across his face was immediate and completely unguarded. So unlike the man I knew.
That was interesting. He really had it bad. And from what I understood, he’d only spent one evening and a couple of short minutes during the speed dating round with her.
She didn’t see me at first. She went straight to him, warm and bright, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And I felt something low and sharp settle in my chest.
So thiswasHope.
“She’s different,” Troy had said when he noticed me at the bar and invited me to stay and meet up with her. I was slightlyskeptical but intrigued by my normally stoic friend being so excited.
Now I understood.
When she finally turned and noticed me, there was that brief flicker in her eyes. Definite surprise, a bit of wariness, and then the politeness snapping into place. She recovered quickly.
And then she smiled at me.
I could quite easily admit when I was wrong. And I waswrongto doubt my friend. Hope’s beauty, coupled with her friendly nature, would soon become addictive.
Then she admitted her heart was being tugged in five different directions.
Troy softened immediately. Of course he did. That was who he was at the heart of things. Serious, kind, generous, and sweet.
He handled it beautifully. Reassured her and thanked her for her honesty.
