Page 34 of Playing Mr. Perfect

Me: We’re not a couple but she’s finally giving me the time of day.

Victory: If you want to keep her around, show her who you really are.

Her statement gives me pause. I wonder who Victory thinks I am. I’ve been who the world wants me to be for so long, I don’t even know who I really am anymore.

Noah: I’m sure he already has.

Noah sends another devil emoji.

Victory sends an eye roll emoji.

Victory: I’m serious. You’re a great guy, Clay. Show her the real you.

Flynn: I can vouch for the importance of that.

Seth: How to Win a Wife 101. Be yourself.

What is it with everyone pushing marriage these days?

Me: I’m not trying to win a wife. I’ve got to go. We’re all meeting for dinner.

Victory: Have fun! Love you!

I’m pocketing my phone when another text rolls in.

It’s from Seth, and not on the group thread.

Seth: You’ve been trying to get Pepper’s attention for a long time. My guess is that means she’s more than just a hookup.

Seth: I’m not saying marriage, but I vote for being yourself and giving Mr. Perfect a rest while you’re with her.

Victory is the oldest sibling, and she exudes all the hallmarks of a responsible firstborn, but Seth has always acted like he is the oldest. He’s been doling out sage advice and watching out for all of us for as long as I can remember. Since I have a tendency to be hyperfocused on goals, Seth’s ability to slow down and see the bigger picture has always served me well, even if I thought it made him boring when we were kids.

But tonight I’m not in the mood to be schooled, and I definitely don’t want to think about me versus Mr. Fucking Perfect.

Me: I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve got to run. We’ll catch up when I get back.

I pocket my phone and put on my shoes. I don’t know exactly what this is between me and Pepper, and I don’t know where it will lead. But I know this. I’m in Paris for three more days, and when Dash invited me to join them, he said they were staying for ten days. That means Pepper is here for the rest of the week, and I don’t want to spend our time together hiding our connection from her family.

Now I just have to convince her of the same.

Unfortunately, while I’m hoping to talk with Pepper about not hiding our attraction, it appears she has other ideas. She’s wearing a killer black dress with a silver design running through it, which I hoped she chose for my benefit. But she’s been acting distant during dinner, barely making eye contact with me, and my attempts at humor are met with a soft smile that feels almost apologetic.

I don’t get it. I thought we connected and had gotten past this game of cat and mouse.

On the walk back to the hotel after dinner, I try to get a minute alone with her, but she stays close to her sisters, in constant conversation with them.

“I’m excited to go to London tomorrow,” Amber says as we walk into the hotel. “Don’t forget you guys, we’re leaving at seven thirty sharp tomorrow morning.”

“You’re going to London?” I ask Dash.

“Yeah,” Dash says. “It was on the itinerary I sent you. You know, the one you didn’t look at.”

Shit.

“I can’t wait to go to Barcelona,” Morgyn exclaims.

“We’re going to have the greatest time, Sunshine,” Graham says.