Page 6 of For the Plot

“You remember that fucker who broke my heart freshman year, Archer?”

“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes in recognition. “Of course I do. I thought you were going to spend the rest of second semester becoming fused to your mattress because you refused to get out of bed for so long.”

“Yeah, well, that,” I say, nodding toward the man, “is his father, Mr. Blackwood," I whisper.

"Holy shit." Maya stares, mouth open slightly. "That's him? Didn’t he become some super billionaire or something?”

I nod again, though I still half expect him to disappear if I blink too hard. Like he's a mirage sent to test my already-fragile mental state.

“What a small world.” She exhales softly. "Damn. No offense, but if I'd known your ex's dad looked like he stepped out of a billionaire romance novel, I would've forced you to spill every single detail back when we were guzzling boxed wine in our freshman dorm and crying over guys who couldn't even spell clitoris."

I let out a weak laugh, more breath than sound. "Please. You were too busy hooking up with that guy from the debate team and trying to prove that your hookup roster could beat your GPA. The last thing you cared about was the fact that my boyfriend's dad looked like he could dominate a boardroom and a bedroom with the same hand."

She hums, dragging her gaze over him with exaggerated appreciation. "God. How did I not know your ex's dad was hiding a whole DILF transformation arc?"

I glance into my glass, trying to slow my breathing. My pulse flutters hard against my throat, and there's a strange tension buzzing under my skin. I glance up at Maya who isn’t even trying to hide her open-mouthed stare. "Please stop looking at him like you're mentally redecorating his bedroom."

She snorts. "You're the one blushing. I'm just a supportive friend bearing witness to the sexual tension you're trying to choke down with vodka."

I shoot her a glare, but the way she raises a smug eyebrow makes it impossible not to laugh.

“What are you waiting for?” She nudges me. “Go say hi.”

“What?” My eyes shoot to hers. “No way, I haven’t seen him in—a decade?”

“Even better. You can walk up with a clean slate and flirt with him.”

I groan softly, dragging a hand through my hair. "I am not walking over there."

She sets her drink down and rests her chin in her hand. "Why not?"

I blink. "Are you seriously suggesting I go talk to him? He probably doesn’t even remember me and besides, his asshole son broke my heart."

She shrugs with infuriating calm. "Why not? You're hot. He's hot. You've got history—even if it's the awkward, completely off-limits, ex's-dad kind. And look at him, Skye. That man isn't sipping his bourbon because he's in a hurry to leave."

“What does any of that have to do with me saying hi?” She lifts her brows at me with a knowing look. I stare at her. "You are absolutely out of your mind if you think I’m going after my ex’s dad to get back out there."

"And you're absolutely going to regret it if you don't at least say hi. Just a casual, 'Oh hey, small world.' It's not like you're asking him to bang you in the coatroom, Jesus. It’s just some harmless flirting to get your mind off of Shane, make you feel good."

I stare across the room, taking in the way his shoulders fill out his dress shirt a little fuller than I remember. “I’m not gonna lie, he was pretty fine when we were younger.”

“Ohhh, so you did notice?”

"Oh my God." I press my hands to my cheeks, which are now burning. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Of course I am. Now go be unhinged for once in your life. Go flirt with a sexy older man, babe.”

The song hits its final chorus, something about dancing on the edge of disaster, about knowing you should walk away but being unable to resist the pull. The lyrics feel like they were written for this exact moment, this choice I'm about to make that could change everything.

I groan and rub my temple. "I am not walking over there."

"Why not?"

"Because he's my ex-boyfriend's father, Maya. There are lines, and that one is in bold Sharpie."

She sips her drink, completely unfazed. "Skye. You dated Archer how long ago?"

"High school through part of college."