Page 7

“Lies!” Wren barked. “What about that cute boy from last week?”

“I…” She stood back up, turning and leaning back against the counter, arms folded across her chest. “Had an itch.”

“Exactly. Go scratch your itch with the super successful sexy rich lady who just asked you to be her fake date!”

“I don’t think she’s interested in me like that,” Ali muttered, deciding everything within reach needed rearranging and unable to resist doing so.

Wren took a calming breath instead.

“Well, I don’t think that’s true. Let’s break it down. Typically, people ask people they’re attracted to or at least like as a friend to these kinds of things. So even if she doesn’t want to sleep with you right at this moment, she’s open to being in the type of situations that could foster intimate connections.”

Wren gripped her shoulders, pulling her around until they were facing one another again.

“She’s classy and sophisticated. I’m a nobody currently wearing pastel blue eyeliner because I was feeling quirky this morning. She just wants someone to ward off her ex.”

“Yeah, someone hot,” Wren shot back, licking the tip of her finger and letting it hover over Ali’s chest, smirking as she made a hissing sizzling sound, pulling a snort from Ali. “Just promise me to be yourself, flirt a little bit, and if the opportunity presents itself… take it.”

Ali nodded her head, a lightness settling the nerves in her chest.

“I guess—I can do that.”

“That’s my girl!”

3

CHARLOTTE

Charlotte enjoyed her morning caffeine fix from Blend & Brew, and not just because she worked it perfectly into her schedule. No, as much as Charlotte needed to keep her life in order to maintain her sanity, the little bit of sunshine who mixed her coffee made it something to love. Mornings were better when one of the first things she saw were dimples tunneling into peachy skin on either side of a beaming smile. Not to mention honey brown eyes warm enough to melt the ice existing around Charlotte’s frosty professional persona.

Pulling away from the curb, she drove toward the nest of skyscrapers visible between the gaps in the buildings. The look on Ali’s face when she asked her to be her fake girlfriend: priceless. Charlotte shook her head, taking a sip of the still steaming liquid, struggling to believe the opportunity to ask presented itself.

Not how she ever envisioned asking anyone out. But the look on Ali’s face…

As if on cue, her phone rang. Lizzie’s name appeared on the dash. Hearing from her twin sister before ten in the morning was a rarity. More so on a day Charlotte knew Lizzie wasn’t scheduled or on call. Being Type A, she knew not only her own schedule like the back of her hand, but her sisters’ as well.

Charlotte answered without hesitation, voice shifting to imitate an automated answering system, “Charlotte Davenport speaking, how may I direct your call?”

Lizzie’s amusement was evident, even through the car speakers.

“Yes, thank you. I’d like to speak to Twinnie, please.”

“One moment.” Charlotte paused for effect, checking her manicure. “Lizzie, my soul. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I was sleeping peacefully when all of a sudden my eyes popped open.”

“You don’t say.”

“I do. The fabled twin-tuition at work no doubt.”

A long-drawn-out yawn filled the car, signifying her twin’s level of exhaustion.

“I felt a shift in our shared universe. I must know what life-altering decision you just made.”

Pulling up to a red light, Charlotte chuckled, looking around at the people moving up and down the sidewalks.

“What possible decision could I make before seven thirty in the morning?”

“You grew a pair and asked the cute barista to be your date?”