The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(20)

Billie snort-laughed. “That’s hysterical.”

“Ugh, the five of them were horn dogs. That’s all they talked about.”

“And all you talked about was physics and astronomy,” I said.

“Well, those subjects are a lot more fascinating than the conversations you had.” Lala looked at Billie. “It’s no wonder I didn’t date much growing up. I had to listen to them talk about accidentally farting while getting a blowjob.”

“Oh my God. Please tell me it wasn’t my husband who did that.”

“It wasn’t,” Lala said. “It was Owen.”

For the next hour, Lala and I told stories about when we were kids. We kept Billie laughing the entire time. At one point, Lala’s phone buzzed. She didn’t answer, and I couldn’t see who it was, but her face changed, so I suspected I knew. Right after that, she stood.

“I should really get going into work. I’m hoping to spend a few hours catching up today while it’s quiet since I didn’t get to everything I needed to accomplish this week.”

“Stop down and visit anytime, Lala,” Billie said. “I’m always game for collecting new ammunition to rank on the fab four.”

Lala laughed. “I have plenty of that.” She looked to me. “Thanks again for this morning, Holden.”

I winked. “No problem. Have a good afternoon.”

After Lala left, Billie pounced. “Spill, pretty boy. What’s the deal with you two?”

“What do you mean?”

“There was so much chemistry sparking in here, I could have used it to run my tattoo machine. Did you have a thing together once or something?”

I sighed. “Not like you’re thinking.”

“Then what?”

“I had a big crush on her growing up.”

“And…”

“And that’s it. She’s Ryan’s little sister. Plus, she’s super smart and not into guys like me.”

“What does that mean, guys like you?”

“Lala’s a researcher, and her fiancé is trying to cure cancer. A woman like that doesn’t want to date a musician, especially not one whose most stimulating conversation recently has been debating whether I would chop off a finger for a million bucks. Brayden and I don’t agree, by the way.”

Billie put her needle into its holder. “While I think it’s smart for you to keep your distance, because she’s engaged and there’s clearly a spark between you, you shouldn’t put yourself or Lala in boxes like that. Look how different Colby and I are. He designs buildings, and I used to get chased by the police for spray painting them. Just because people are different doesn’t mean it can’t work. Why would you want someone similar to you anyway? You’d never learn anything new.”

She had a point. But still…

At home later that night, I was still replaying the conversation I’d had with Billie. One way or another, I hadn’t thought about much except Lala since she came to the City for her interview. As fucked up as it was, I put my ear against the wall in my bedroom to see if I could hear whether she’d gotten home from work yet. It wasn’t like I was going to go over if she had; I just needed to know. But the only thing I heard was silence, so I was glad when my phone buzzed with a distraction.

Sienna: Hey. Are you around to hang out tonight?

I’d hung out with Sienna a few times before. She was really nice, not to mention sexually adventurous and no commitment required. A few weeks ago, I would’ve jumped on the offer, but I just wasn’t into it tonight. So I lied.

Holden: Sorry. Plans with the guys tonight.

Her response was quick.

Sienna: If you change your mind, I’ll be at the bar where we met last time, the one around the corner from your place. And just in case you need a little incentive…

A sexy-as-shit cleavage selfie followed. I hung my head, hating myself for still not wanting to go. I had no desire for a hookup because of a certain engaged Goldilocks next door.

I wound up lying on the couch and flipping through channels on the TV, but I couldn’t stop berating myself for being such a piece of shit and thinking about Lala.

You live in a city with four-million women—why are you obsessing over the one you can’t have?

She’s getting married.

She’s Ryan’s little sister, for Christ’s sake.

After a while, I dragged my ass off the couch and got dressed, forcing myself to head to the bar. My intention had been to go meet Sienna, but one block out, I took a detour and walked into a local old-man’s bar instead. I needed a minute to get my head screwed on straight.

There were only three guys sitting at the bar, each one alone, and all looking as miserable as I felt at the moment. The bartender took one look at me and pointed over his shoulder. “Bathroom is in the back right corner.”

I walked to a stool and sat down. “I don’t need to use the bathroom. Came in for a drink.”

“Oh. Sorry. You don’t look like my usual crowd.” He tossed a cardboard coaster onto the bar. “What can I get you?”

“Jack and Coke, please.”

He rapped his knuckles against the top of the bar. “Coming right up.”

When he returned with my drink, he extended his hand. “Evan.”