Page 98 of Instigator

. . .

Ceci

Colt flits around the room, adjusting the silverware on the table and then shifting it back.

“Dude, chill,” I say from my spot in the living room, where I have a view of the entire open space. “This is going to go fine.”

“But what if⁠—”

Lumbering to my feet, I cross to where he’s now fidgeting with the bottles of wine. I set my hands on his shoulders, gazing up at him.

“He’s crazy about you. This isn’t a big deal.”

Except I know it is a pretty fucking big deal. Colt hasn’t dated much, and I can count on one hand the number of girlfriends he’s introduced me to in the twenty-plus years we’ve been friends.

It’s not the fact that the person he’s seeing is male. It’s that we’re merging our professional and personal lives, and that’s something we might not be able to walk back from.

“I love you, Colty. If this thing doesn’t work out, there will be another person for you.” I’m careful with my pronouns. “But don’t plan for an ending. You never know. This might be the right guy. If not forever, at least for now.”

My longtime friend exhales heavily. “You’re right.”

“I know.” My lips curve into a smirk. “Good on you for finally realizing it. Ceci knows best.”

“Ceci needs to not talk about herself in the third person,” he snarks back.

And then the doorbell rings, and his face pales.

“Fuck. I don’t think I can do this.”

“You can, and you will.” I squeeze his shoulders again.

But as a peace offering, I cross to the door, opening it to reveal Aidan side by side with Robby Andrews.

“Hey, come on in.” I beckon them over the threshold. “Colt’s just finishing up.”

“It’s good to see you,” Robby says with a grin. He gives me a brief, polite hug.

His tall, lean body is tight with muscle, and his short blond hair is styled away from his face. He looks good in a long wool coat and leather gloves, a gray knit scarf knotted around his neck. Yeah, I can see what my friend sees in him.

“You came together?” I look between them. I didn’t think my hockey player socialized with very many of his teammates, much less the assistant equipment manager.

“We were leaving the rink at the same time, so it made sense to carpool.” Aidan steps forward, and I allow him to pull me in for a kiss.

“Hey, you,” I whisper.

“Missed you,” he whispers back.

My heart thumps with happiness. “Missed you too.”

We separate, but he doesn’t let me go far. His hand finds mine, lacing our fingers together. It’s been about ten hours since I’ve seen him last, but it feels like ten years. I’ve never felt this before—the soul-deep desire to be close to someone at all times. It’s almost obsessive, this need to be near him.

“Come on, let’s meet Colt for real.”

They’ve been introduced to each other because of board duties, and we’re both connected to Hailey, but they’ve never spent actual time together.

Colt is a huge part of my life. If Aidan and I are going to work out, they’re going to have to get along. Colt and Bex are the two friends I’m closest with these days, and I already know I get along with his sister. We have to weave together the fabrics of our lives in a way that works for both of us.

In the living room, Colt is pouring a glass of wine, and he looks over his shoulder at us. “Aidan, what would you like to drink?”