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When she tried to move away, I banded my arm around her shoulders. “It’ll be fine.”
“How could you possibly think it’ll be fine?” Her voice rose and became pitchy. She shoved against me and moved a few inches away.
“I’ll be right there the whole time,” I cooed, trying to reassure her but secretly enjoying her discomfort.
“Killian, people will recognize you. It’ll be a thing, and I’m not ready. I need to prepare for something like this.” Her excuses came faster and faster.
To distract her so she didn’t hyperventilate, I pulled on a pair of thick, non-prescription glasses, twisted my hair up into a low man-bun, and threw on a worn-out ball cap I’d had forever.
Tris’s eyes moved up and down my body, finally noticing I wasn’t dressed in my usual leather. I wore a hoodie, a new pair of jeans versus the worn, ripped look I preferred, and an old pair of Vans.
“Nobody will know,” I assured her.
She ran a hand across her forehead. “They’ll know.”
“You worry too much.”
“And you don’t worry enough,” she volleyed back. The familiar argument brought an unexpected smile to both our lips.
“Let’s talk it through on the way there. It’s speed dating. You’ll move on to the next person before things get weird and awkward. It’ll be fine.”
She sighed. “I can’t change your mind, can I?”
“Not if you want me to help.” Part of me wanted her to say that she’d decided against getting Peter to fall in love with her. That she didn’t need my help anymore.
A determined look crossed her face. “Okay. You’re right. I said I wanted this, and I need to just put on my big girl panties and steel-toed boots. I can do this.”
My girl could do anything she set her mind to. My body jerked as once again, the unbidden thought of her beingmy girlcrossed my mind.
As we strategized on the way there, I became reminded of the delicate balance I was trying to maintain—and the potential for it all to come crashing down around me.
Chapter Thirteen
TRISSA
How had I let Killian talk me into this?
The neon bar sign flickered above us, illuminating his face with an eerie glow. A mixture of anxiety and something else I wasn’t ready to admit yet had me on edge. Maybe it was the way Killian’s presence seemed to fill every available space, even when he wasn’t touching me.
“So what’s the game plan?” I asked, fidgeting with the strap of my purse. More than anything, I wanted to head back to the car, pull my ereader out of my purse, and read my latest rom-com. “I mean, I can’t just walk in there and say, ‘Hi, I’m Trissa. Want to help me figure out how to attract my boss?’” I groaned.
Killian’s lips quirked into an irritating half-smile. “Probably not the best opener, Tink.” He leaned closer. I caught a whiff of his cologne, and a prickling began under my skin. “Just be yourself. Charm them with that Trissa magic.”
He winked, earning a snort-laugh from me. “Right. Because I’m so good at getting guys to ask me out.” God, I couldn’t say how long it had been since my last date. Six months? A year, maybe? I did a mental check on my calendar and realized it had probably been even longer.
His eyes softened for a moment, and I had to look away. “You’ll do fine,” he soothed, his voice low and rumbly and doing things to me that I didn’t want to unpack. “I’ll be at the bar, keeping an eye out. If you need an escape, just… I don’t know, tap your nose or something.”
“Tap my nose? What am I, a cartoon character?”
He shrugged, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Would you prefer to yell out ‘Mayday, mayday?’”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Let’s go with the nose thing.”
As we walked towards the entrance, I pulled the edges of my cardigan together and looked down at my worn jeans. Would I be underdressed compared to the other women inside?
I slowed my steps. I couldn’t go in there. What was Killian thinking? Jeans and a cardigan? For speed-dating? I’d look like I’d wandered in by accident.
“You okay?” His brow furrowed.