Page 28 of Dr. Stone

“Oh, I’m sure it was intentional if my husband was involved,” Ash said, rolling her eyes.

“Jace saw me out to dinner the other night? I didn’t know. I didn’t see any of the guys.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Why did I even care? And why did that same warm, dizzy rush hit me like I’d just been pulled back into a moment I’d tried not to think about?

“Try not to be annoyed at the guys,” Ash said, snapping me back. “I’m pretty sure the whole thing was to make Jace uncomfortable. If I’d known, I’d have told them to knock it off. Strangely, those idiots form lifelong bonds through their stupid pranks.”

“They really do,” Avery laughed.

“I’m not upset,” I said truthfully. “I’m not the one whose friends ambushed me to watch someone I might like having dinner with someone else.” I hesitated. “Okay—so, last night at the party? Did Jace and Titus figure it out? Did things get weird?”

“Not exactly,” Avery said with a knowing smile. “But let’s just say…there’s a good chance we’re watching the start of one very dramatic love triangle.”

“Oh, God,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Well, as flattering as this news is, I don’t want to be the reason two childhood friends end up at odds. And regardless of that, I’m not even trying to get involved right now.”

“Why the fuck not?” Avery asked as Ash let out a laugh, indicating I had no choice in the matter.

“Because I have a one-year-old son, and I don’t have the stamina to go through the highs and lows of datingoneman, let alone having two competing over my attention. I’ve never dealt with such a thing.”

“That’s because that fucker Jonathan snatched you off the bachelorette market too soon and then spit you out onto it again with no self-esteem,” Ash said. “Would you like to know how I think you should handle this?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, confused.

I didn’t need drama in my life, and that was a fact. I also didn’t want to get hurt again, and not to be full of myself, but I didn’t want to hurt one of these two men either. Thinking that I could even remotely affect either of those two drop-dead gorgeous men was more laughable than this entire situation.

“This is how you go about this,” Ash said, reaching for her bottled water and taking a sip. “First of all, enjoy the flattery. Plenty of women in those boys’ social sphere would throw their trust funds and fortunes away to have a sliver of the interest both men have shown for you.”

“Okay,” I answered.

“Just enjoy the hell out of your life and these two men. Perhaps something comes out of this, and perhaps it doesn’t. But if I were you, I’d play along.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a little fun, especially if those two are the party favors you get to enjoy while doing it,” Avery added.

“I just don’t want anyone hurt,” I said.

“This isn’t Twilight,” Ash interrupted with a laugh. “Edward and Jacob aren’t here to fight over Bella.”

“What if it turned into something like that?” I asked.

“Well, if anyone looks like they could be a vampire in this situation, it’s Titus,” Avery said. “Those eyes should’ve been adead giveaway that he’s been feeding on animals instead of humans.”

“Jesus, you’re as bad as Jake and Collin sometimes,” Ash nudged her best friend as we laughed together. Then she turned and eyed me from over the top of her sunglasses, “Listen, babe. As women, sometimes our emotions get in the way of us living our lives because we feel responsible for other people’s feelings. However, after what I heard last night, those men are willing to riskbroken heartsso that the best man may win.”

“I honestly can’t believe this,” I said truthfully.

“That’s because you’re making a bigger deal of it than it is,” Ash said. “Like I said, just enjoy the attention and the thrill.”

“Well, what if I don’t want to get hurt? I was having fun dating and enjoying myself that way,” I said.

“Then that’s what you should keep doing,” Avery shrugged. “We’re just informing you that after what we witnessed between Titus and Jace, you should probably be prepared for Jace to come around again.”

“Maybe there’s more to the night you had with Jace than even you gave it credit for,” Ash said. “He seems to have stuck with you on some level.”

“Well, he did make an impression on me,” I smiled.

I was happy to know Jace most likely felt the same as I did these days, that there’d been more to that night than just walking away as strangers with a shared memory.

I tried to push those thoughts aside, to ignore the quiet ache for one more night or the chance to actually know the man who’d ruined me for anyone else. We had both agreed nothing more would come of it.