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He choked on his beer with a laugh that was half disbelief, half adoration. Still, Juniper was right. A gorgeous auburn-haired woman with their hair tied in space buns winced at Tom and Amir’s singing between scrolling on her phone.Her drink sat untouched on the table.

‘And it looks like she’s been stood up,’ Juniper said. ‘Perfect time for Tilly to swoop in and save the day.’

‘Mine is better. She looks like she listens when people talk. Isn’t glued to her phone screen.’ Aiden didn’t know why he was so desperate to help Tilly, only that he couldn’t remember a time when he’d done something this normal. If he could prove he was a decent wingman, maybe they’d keep him around. Maybe he’d be better for more than just his money, and his friends would start seeing him as a real person.

Apparently, that wasn’t to be, because Juniper rolled her eyes. ‘If she looks so wonderful, why don’tyougo and talk to her?’

He nudged her foot under the table. ‘Because I’ve set my sights elsewhere. No need to be jealous, Hodge. I’m all yours.’

‘Vom,’ Tilly said, pretending to retch. And then: ‘Actually, it’s cute and I want one. Not an Aiden. A Juniper, maybe.’

Juniper tapped Tilly’s hair, leaving her thick curls to bounce against her shoulders. ‘Trust me, you don’t want a Juniper, butIwill get you someone far better.’

Aiden gasped dramatically. ‘I don’t like any of what you just said.’

‘Maybe you should get all this rivalry out of your system,’ Luc suggested. ‘Whoever gets their girl to talk to Tilly first wins.’

Tilly’s brows lifted. ‘Hm. I like it.’

Juniper jolted up in her seat. ‘What do we win?’

‘My eternal gratitude.’

‘And ice cream,’ Luc said, tapping a picture of a chocolate sundae printed on the pub’s menu.

‘Oh, you’re on. There is nothing in this world that will stand between me and ice cream.’ Juniper rose from her chair, towering over Aiden with a wicked grin on her face, her hands planted on the table at either side of her so that he had a perfect view of her cleavage. He was both intimidated and extremely turned on, eyes dragging down to her lips. He hadn’t kissed them in so long. Too long.

‘We’ll soon see about that, Hodge.’ He tapped her nose as he stood, his height a great advantage. She didn’t back down from it, only redirecting her glower up instead of down. ‘May the best wingperson win,’ he decided, and then moved towards the bar to work his magic.

30

As Aiden slid onto the stool beside the woman he’d set his sights on, he locked eyes with Juniper across the bar. She was already talking to the autumnal goddess, as she’d phrased it, arms stretched against the back of the stranger’s chair as though they’d known each other for years. When the woman looked at her phone, Juniper mouthed something that resembled,I scream with wine. He assumed it meantice cream is mineand shook his head slowly, only then realising that the woman he’d come to chat with was staring at him, equal amounts disturbed and curious. Probably because he had stuck his face between her and her friend, having meant to say something before Juniper distracted him.

‘May we help you?’ asked the man.

Aiden stuttered his words for a moment. ‘Well, possibly. Maybe. I was just wondering if my friend over there can buy you a drink?’

The man waved a hand. ‘Sorry, mate. Not interested.’

‘Not you, unfortunately.’ With a sympathetic pat on the man’s shoulder, he swivelled to the woman. ‘You.’

She smirked, casting a glance over her shoulder to view their table. ‘Well, that depends. Which friend are we talking about?’

‘The woman currently chomping on ice…’ Aiden winced. Tilly was gorgeous, but with her cheeks full like Cerberus’s at mealtime and water dribbling down her chin, she wasn’t exactly looking her best. ‘Across from our green-haired friend.’

She hazarded a look at her friend, who shrugged and hopped off the stool. ‘I was about to head off, so I’ll leave you to it, I s’pose. Enjoy.’

And then it was just the two of them. Aiden slipped onto the abandoned stool and held out a hand, trying to work his practised charm. ‘I’m Aiden, by the way. Sorry for interrupting, it’s just sort of urgent.’

‘Coco.’ She narrowed her eyes, but shook his hand. ‘Why urgent? Is she dying?’

‘God, no! No, she’s just terribly lonely.’ He scratched his head. Again, probably not setting up a good impression of Tilly. ‘In a very non-desperate way.’

Coco cleared her throat. ‘Well, I’m not feeling all that into desperation myself, so…’

‘Okay, I lied. It’s me who’s desperate.’ He pointed to Juniper across the bar, who now had her back turned. ‘I’m trying to out wingman my girl… myfriend,’ he corrected quickly, ‘over there, and I made a very good argument about why you would be the perfect match for Tilly.’

‘Hm.’ Coco smirked. ‘So, you’re trying to impress your girl, in other words.’