Page 58 of Instigator

“No.” She doesn’t look up from her crochet project, but she doesn’t need to for me to know⁠—

“That’s your lying voice.” I set my book aside. “Tell me the truth.”

“Okay, fine, it is. But I really think you’re going to like her.”

“I haven’t liked any of the other women you’ve set me up with. What makes you think this one will be different?”

“Trust me.” My sister rolls her eyes. “You’re going to love her.”

Heaving a sigh, I admit, “I’m kind of hung up on someone.”

Her eyes widen as she gapes at me. “You met someone?”

“Yeah, and she doesn’t feel the same way, so I’m a little in my feels about it.” I cross my arms over my chest, like that will form another layer of protection around my bruised heart.

Friends. That’s all she wants to be. I’m just another loser pining over a woman ten times out of his league. I always thought the guys complaining about being “friend zoned” were making a big deal out of nothing. You can’t control who’s interested in you, and women are allowed to exist in male-dominated spaces and still feel safe. I never thought I’d fall for a woman who wants nothing to do with me. I never thought I’d fall, period.

But I did. I’m falling for Ceci, and she doesn’t want the same things I do. Turns out, it really fucking sucks.

“Oh, Aid…”

And there’s the pity. Joy. Just what I wanted.

“This is why I didn’t tell you.”

Hailey shrugs. “All the more reason to get under someone else.”

I grumble under my breath, but I already know I’m going to show up as requested.

Once the recovery suit has finished its job, I shower and trim my beard before dressing in my favorite dark blue suit. It’s not quite navy and not royal blue, but something in between that Hailey says brings out my eyes. As much as I don’t want to show up and have dinner with a woman I’m not interested in, I can’t look my sister in the eye and deny her anything. She’s too… Hailey.

My phone vibrates with a text from Ceci as I’m getting in the car.

Annie: You up to game tonight?

I grimace as I tap out a reply.

Me: Give me two hours. I’ve got a blind date.

Annie: Another one?

Me: Hailey’s relentless.

Several minutes pass with no further response, though the typing bubbles dance up and down a few times before a new text finally pops up.

Annie: Have fun. Don’t overthink it.

With a groan, I shove my phone into the center console so I won’t be tempted to look while driving. It goes to figure that the first person who gets my engine revving is so uninterested in me, she doesn’t care if I go on a date with another woman.

Great. Just great. Fantastic.

It’s with a sour mood that I enter the bistro and give my last name. Jamie—I recognize the host from when I was here with Ceci—leads me to a table in the corner, far away from the hustle and bustle of the packed room.

There’s already a woman seated there, her back to us. Her long dark hair makes me think of Ceci, and fuck, what I would do to be able to move on, to not fetishize my best friend like this.

And then the woman stands, revealing a tight, short black dress that highlights her curves, and stilettos that do dangerous things to her powerful legs. A bolt of lust floods my system. Well, maybe I can do this…

I clear my throat and straighten my jacket. The woman turns, and⁠—