Page 75 of The Bluffing Game

“Hi. What are you up to this evening?” I ask, knowing I have to act fast if my plan is going to work.

“About to order a pizza and watch Love Is Blind: UK. Have you⁠—”

“Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”

“I would love to go to dinner. Just you and me?” She sounds eager.

“Well, it’s actually a double date,” I say, ignoring the momentary feeling of guilt. “A friend of mine suggested it.”

I know my words are not exactly true. Sage didn’t suggest a double date, yet I laughed and joked that this was the perfect place for one. Even if she was slightly distracted. I am going to pretend like I thought she’d agreed to a double date with me tonight. I know it will be tricky. I know I am being deceitful, but I have to see if she and Parker connect. I have to see if they have something and if he is a good guy. I truly want the best for her, but something in me has to be there. I want her to see what it would be like to go to dinner with me as well, to allow her the opportunity to compare the two of us. Our personalities, our looks, the way we both make her feel. I want her to put us up against each other and find him lacking.

“Can you get to the restaurant within the next ten minutes?” I practically bark into the phone.

“I can be there in five if you send me the address.” I can hear the smile in her answer.

“Good. I’ll be waiting for you outside,” I say. “And, Sandra?”

“Yes, Dalton?”

“Remember, this is a double date and not anything crazy special.”

“Sure thing, Dalton. This is going to be so amazing.”

“Yeah, it will be.”

I hang up the phone and feel guilty for using Sandra in this way, but I’ll make it up to her. I’ll send her flowers, chocolates, and a card tomorrow, apologizing for using her. She’ll understand. She’ll have to.

All is fair in love and war. Even if this is neither love nor war.

Sage and I are not in love, but there is something between us. Even though I know I should allow her to have this date to flirt with Parker and get to know him, I can’t. I want to be there to make sure she’s okay, to make sure she isn’t making any poor decisions. She has no one in this town other than her sister, and I know what men are like in this superficial city. I want to be her protector. I want to make sure she finds a good guy.

And maybe, if I am honest with myself, I want to make sure she doesn’t find a guy who isn’t me. Which doesn’t even make sense, because I am emotionally unavailable. I don’t want to think about my reasoning too deeply because then I’ll have to answer questions I don’t even want to think about right now.

Chapter 21

SAGE

“I hope you like the roses and that they’re not too cliché,” Parker says as we sit down at a table in the middle of the restaurant. He offers me a sincere smile, his blue eyes kind, as he nods toward the bouquet on the chair next to me.

“Oh, flowers are never cliché. Thank you. They’re beautiful.” I lift them up and sniff them. The fragrant smell tells me that they’re freshly picked. “You really didn’t have to, but I really appreciate it.”

“I was very much looking forward to our date,” he says as he leans back.

I notice he’s dressed very smartly. He has an air of sophistication and charm, and I feel like I’ve won the lottery. He almost seems too good to be true.

“I hope you like this restaurant. I’ve only been here once before, but the food was amazing, and I thought to myself, if ever there was a place I wanted to take a first date if I wanted to impress, this would be it.”

“Oh, you don’t need to impress me.” I giggle shyly and look down.

My heart races as he leans over and grabs my hand and squeezes.

“Oh, I very much did have to impress you, Sage. I want a chance at a second date after all.”

“Well, let’s get to the end of the dinner first. You might find you don’t want one after this.” I titter, but I can’t help but think of how poised he is, how he says just the right words. I should be happy, but I miss the banter that I have with Dalton.

Get him out of your mind, I lecture myself internally.

I do not need to think about Dalton, or his offer of a kiss, or the way his eyes stared at my lips. My heart almost jumps out of my body as I think about him, and I pray to God that my face is not turning red.