Player(60)

“Crush it!” Amelia cheered, then amended, “I mean, don’t crush his dick. Except maybe with your vagina.” She sighed. “You know what I mean.”

“Break a bed frame!” Katherine encouraged. We gave her a look. “You know, because the sex is so savage.”

I laughed as we approached the front door.

Rin pulled me into a hug when I turned to face them. “You’re going to be great, Val. I hope he’s funny and smart and gorgeous.”

“And that he has a fire hose in his pants,” Amelia said with a waggle of her brows.

“I love you guys,” I said on a chuckle.

“We love you, too,” they said in unison, and we all burst into laughter.

And with that, I could stall no more. I pulled on my coat and stepped outside to meet the evening, wishing I could just go back inside and climb in bed with a bowl of guacamole the size of my face and a bag of chips. And some tequila. I wouldn’t have thumbed my nose at tequila at all.

Before I took three steps, my phone buzzed with a text from Sam.

I would wish you luck, but you don’t need it.

I smiled down at my phone, ignoring my speeding pulse as I texted him back. I wish I had your faith in me. I’m nervous.

Don’t be. Tell me what you learned in lesson one.

I took a breath and messaged him back. Eye contact. Compliment him. Touch him, not weirdly. I guess I won’t have to use a pick-up line since we’re already going on a date.

You forgot the most important thing.

What’s that?

Be yourself. It’s what makes you so beautiful.

Warmth bloomed in my chest, the edges touched with pain. So I made a joke. You sure it’s not my red lipstick? I paused on the sidewalk to take a ridiculous selfie, kissy face and all, and fired it off.

The dots that indicated he was typing started, then stopped, then started again three times before the text came through. That definitely doesn’t hurt.

Another message came through right after.

When is he picking you up?

He’s not, I answered. I’m walking there now.

He didn’t come pick you up? Why didn’t he come pick you up?

I rolled my eyes, but I found myself smiling. Because I didn’t want him to know where I lived until at least the third date. Wasn’t it you who told me eighty percent of men are assholes?

Eighty-five, and it’s true. But Adam isn’t one of those guys. That’s why I picked him. Well, that, and I knew you’d love him.

Hopefully he loves me, too.

If he doesn’t, he’s a fucking idiot, and you should send him to me so I can tell him so to his face.

I laughed, already feeling less nervous. Sam had a knack for that. All right, I’m almost there. I’ll talk to you later.

Message me and let me know how it went.

Okay. Thanks again, Sam.

Anytime. Oh, one last thing.

What’s that?

Don’t forget that you’re the prize. Not him.

My cheeks flamed hot, and I shook my head at my phone, smiling. If you say so.

I say so.

I slipped my phone into my purse, warm and giddy. Problem was, I was walking into a date with a guy who wasn’t the one who’d made me warm and giddy. I did my best to shake it off in that last block, and by the time I reached for the brass door handle, I was almost ready.

Almost.

No amount of preparation would have readied me for the man waiting inside.

He stood the second I stepped in. Adam was tall—gorgeously tall—with dark hair that he wore a little long. It curled at the ends, licking the collar of his leather jacket.

“Val?” My name was a question on his sculpted, smiling lips.

Surely, this wasn’t the guy Sam had set me up with. He was almost as out of my league as Sam.

“Adam?”

He stepped to me, extended his hand, took mine when I offered it. His skin was warm, his hand strong. “Sam said you were a stunner, but I had no idea you were this beautiful. It’s nice to meet you, Val.”

“You too,” I said from behind a blush.

“I got us a table by the window. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course.” I followed him to the table, pausing for him to pull out the chair for me. “Thanks,” I said as I passed him and sat.

He smelled good, I noted, and he had a nice handshake, but neither affected me. It didn’t linger in my mind, and I didn’t feel the ghost of touch on my skin. Not like Sam.

Stop it, Val. He’s not Sam, primarily because he’s actually available.

“So,” I said as he took the seat across from me, “you know Sam from school?”

He smiled, sitting back in his chair. His eyes were bright and friendly, happy eyes to match his happy smile. “Everyone at school knew Sam. He’s never met a stranger, you know?”

I chuckled. “I do.”

“We were roommates for a while. You guys play Wicked together, right?”

“Yeah. I just recently got a permanent chair.”

“Congratulations. That’s no easy feat.”

“Trust me, I know,” I said on a laugh.

“Did you know the contractor?”

I shook my head. “I was subbing, and they gave me the chair. I’d never been so shocked in my life.”