Page 38 of Instigator

I clear my throat. “Not a him.”

Her jaw drops as she stares at me. “You had a date?”

“Kind of. Not really.” Wincing, I try to decide how much detail I want to go into. “She’s someone I met online, but I got cold feet. And then I was a total dick and didn’t show up.”

“Apologize,” she urges. “Flowers help. Candy is a bonus. Go to her, tell her you fucked up and you’re sorry, and see where it goes from there.”

“But will she forgive me?”

“I don’t know her. Maybe. You might have screwed up for good.” She glares at me, then sighs, relenting. “I’m glad you’re dating again. Maybe now I can finally get a sister-in-law.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

“It’s nothing like that,” I’m quick to assure her. “We’re not… that way.”

Although with the way I’m attracted to Ceci, I’m not opposed to starting something with her. With Annie.

“Maybe she can be a friend?” Ryan suggests.

“I hope so.”

Hailey reaches over and pats my hand. “You’ve got this. Don’t fuck this up, dumbass.”

As annoying as they are, I do take their advice to heart. Flowers. Candy. Apologize.

That’s how I find myself back at the training facility a few hours after practice. I navigate through the halls of the admin wing like a man on a mission. The bouquet I’m carrying is enormous, filling my arms, and the gift bag hanging from my wrist cuts into my skin like barbed wire. It’s a shackle grounding me to this moment.

Am I really doing this?

As I reach the office, I take a deep breath, but it does nothing to settle my nerves. I rap twice on the door, and after a moment, it swings open to reveal Ceci.

Annie.

“MacGregor?” She cocks her head, her eyes narrowing as she studies me. “What’s up?”

Her intoxicating perfume washes over me, settling my nerves. Her long dark hair is tied up in a jaunty ponytail, and she’s wearing a full face of makeup, accentuating her pretty features.

I’ve never seen her not done up, and I wonder what she looks like without it. Does she allow anyone to see her bare and vulnerable?

I want to be the one. I want to pull the tie from her hair and let her waves tumble down around us. I want to pull her into my arms and never let her go. I want… I want her.

My heart thunders against my rib cage. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

“Annie, we need to talk.”

She goes still. “Wh-what did you call me?”

“Annie.”

Ceci’s eyes widen, and she gulps.

“I suppose I should introduce myself properly.” Setting down the flowers on her desk, I take a step back and rub my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Hi. I’m Aidan MacGregor. But you know me as Wish.”

seventeen

. . .

Ceci