Page 90 of The Singles Club

“What else?” I whispered.

She thought for a moment, trying to reach for something, but she was at a loss for words. “I guess that’s it.”

Giselle knew nothing about Justin. She didn’t know how funny he could be or how genuine his heart was. She didn’t know he could make one hell of a double fudge brownie when you’re feeling bad. Or how his laugh was so infectious that you couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

But she was right about that smile—it leaves you almost breathless when you know it’s directed at you.

And he has perfect feet. Who the hell has perfect feet?

The thought of any woman playing games to win him over made my stomach turn.

“So, can you help me?” Giselle asked.

“You want me to teach you how to manipulate this man into thinking he’s into you?”

“I—I didn’t think of it that way.”

I reached for my drink and downed the rest of the wine, my heart hammering beneath my ribs. “Because I’m realizing that’s what I’ve been doing when I help people get who they want. It’s just a game. But in the end, it never works out unless a true connection is there.”

The part I always failed at.

Crystal put her hand over mine. “Viv? Are you okay?”

I looked up at Giselle, who was a mix of emotions I couldn’t read… maybe guilt, shame.

“Don’t feel bad,” I said. “We all do it to some extent. I’ve done it my whole life and mastered it. I just never mastered the parts that really matter.” I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to massage out the sharp pain I felt.

“Vivian?” Crystal squeezed my hand, snapping me from another world.

I stood up. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

I have to tell the man I think I’m falling in love with how I feel.

* * *

By the time the cab dropped me off in front of Justin’s apartment building, my moment of inspiration was starting to fade.

I was falling for him, that much I knew. But then what?

What about Paris? Do we do a long-distance thing? People do it all the time, right? Alright, I’m getting ahead of myself… I don’t even know if he feels the same. Maybe we’ve been in the friend zone too long, and because I suck at relationships and moving, he probably wouldn’t even want to go there.

Then there’s a chance he doesn’t feel the same at all…

And I promised no games with him.

I stood in front of the door buzzer and pushed the palms of my hands against my eyes, trying to get my thoughts straight.

Just do it. Find out how Justin feels, and we’ll figure it out from there.

I hit the buzzer.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Justin. It’s me, Vivian.” I pulled at my necklace. “You mind if I come up?”

“Sure.” He buzzed me in, and I took the elevator to his floor. As I reached his door, I felt the blood drain from my face.

Maybe this was a bad idea.