Page 109 of Take the Plunge

“You shouldn’t have bought him to meet Aria, then,” Klara says.

“I’m just making sure our friend isn’t dating a tosser,” Aria retorts with a sweet smile. “You’re not, are you?”

“No, but I wouldn’t admit it if I was, would I?”

“Good answer.”

“He’s not,” Kian says.

Aria rolls her eyes. “You would say that. You’re biased.”

“I wouldn’t date a tosser,” Kian assures her.

She stares at him.

“All right, I wouldn’t date a tosser again.” He looks at me. “Long story, but there was a guy at uni who was a bit of a jerk.”

“A bit?” Aria asks. “He treated you like shit.”

“And I dumped him.”

She folds her arms. “Not fast enough.” She turns her attention back to me. “You’d better treat him right.”

“I will.”

“Are you any good at pub quizzes?”

I blink at the abrupt change of subject. “I’ve never done one, but Kian told me how important it is for you to win.”

“Yes. We’re trying to beat that team.” She points to a nearby table.

My pulse picks up at the group of gorgeous twentysomething guys. They range from muscly hunks to twinks.

“They win almost every week,” Aria says.

“Let’s see if we can beat them this week,” I say, earning myself an approving nod from Aria.

She leans across to Kian and whispers something in his ear. He nods. She whispers something else, which makes him smile, and then she squeezes his hand. I guess they were talking about me. Had Kian mentioned me to his friends at some point?

“We need a team name,” Aria says when Nathan and Olly return with drinks.

“Don’t you have a regular team name?” I ask.

“No.” Olly groans. “Aria insists on a new one every week.”

“She thinks the names are unlucky, and that’s why we lose,” Klara says. “But really it’s because we’re not that good at general knowledge questions.”

“Speak for yourself,” Aria says.

“I’m rubbish at them,” Olly says. “But I’m decent at the sports round.”

“Jett should choose our name this week,” Elouise says.

“Way to put him on the spot.” Nathan kisses her cheek.

I assume they’re a couple.

Everyone stares at me expectantly.