Page 44 of The Overtime Persuasive

Juliette’s mouth falls open while Vivian makes a soft, delighted sound. “Ohhh.”

“No.” I point the cloth at both of them. “There is no ohhh.”

“There is absolutely an ohhh,” Juliette says. “And it is adorable.”

“It’s a dinner. With a friend.”

“That Liam invited you to,” Vivian adds.

“Ah,” I wave the cloth in her direction. “That my best friend’s brother invited me to. He needed a date.”

“He needed a date,” Juliette repeats. “And asked you.”

“Nope.” I shake the cloth in the air. “It’s a you scratch my back, I scratch yours, favor-for-a-favor arrangement.”

Vivian tilts her head. “I don’t believe going to dinner with a handsome professional hockey player, where you will be surrounded by his friends and colleagues, qualifies as a hardship.”

“That is where you are incorrect.” I laugh, wagging a finger at them. “I am an introvert to my core. I love going home after work and staying there. I love pajamas and skincare. Liam simply needs a plus-one. Therefore, I agreed to be his plus-one and there’s nothing more to it.”

“Well, I still have the little black dress I borrowed from you for that wedding. You look so good in that, you need to wear it.” Vivian reaches into her purse. “I can bring the dress back in an hour.”

“I’m sure I can find something in my closet to wear to this thing,” I say. “You don’t need to bring my dress back like this is some emergency.”

“It’s a good dress,” Juliette surmises, nodding her head. “And you do look good in it.”

Fine. “Okay, bring the dress.”

“It’s going to be so much fun,” Juliette goes on. “I love when Coach throws these bonding dinners. All the plus-ones have just as much fun as the guys do.”

Vivian smiles. “You’re going to love it.”

I smile back, half-listening as Juliette starts ticking down the plants she’s gotten ready and who gets what, but Vivian still watches me.

“Does Lucy know yet?”

The question hits me harder than it should, at least in my opinion. Not because there’s anything to hide. There isn’t. This was her idea for me to talk to him, ask him for help. Heck, I could text her right now. Three words. Dinner with Liam—and that would be that.

However, if it really does mean nothing, why does telling her feel like turning on a light I’m not ready to shine yet?

Thankfully, my internal war is interrupted when my phone vibrates against my hip. “Oh, let me get this.”

I pull it out, grateful for the reprieve…until I see Liam’s name on the screen.

Liam

Pick you up at 6:45. Coach’s wife says we’ll be outside, so bring a jacket.

Okay, so no dress needed. Denim. I’m contemplating my wardrobe when a second message appears.

Liam

And yes, before you ask, this counts as a date.

Heat crawls into my cheeks. I can feel the pink as it flushes across my skin.

6:45 is fine. Don’t be late.

Liam