I’ve been working my ass off to pretend Julia doesn’t exist, but the minute my sister mentioned her name, my brain fried and something primal flared to life in me. A possessiveness like I’ve never felt before.

“Give her a break. She’s going to be on the Canadian team. She’s going to win. I just know it. Every bit of effort makes a difference, and I refuse to talk any other way—manifestation is real. So do your part.”

“Okay, cool. I’ll work on my manifestation, but only if you come for a drink with me.”

“Oh my god, is this show driving you to drink? I’ve barely recovered from our last meeting in the crawl space. What’s going on?”

“Parker. Please.”

“Fine. But I’m only coming because you’re up to something, and now I want to know what it is.”

“Pfft. You act like wanting to hang out with your closest sibling is a crime.”

She barks out a laugh, spinning the chair before pointing at me. “No, but as your closest sibling, I can tell when you’re bullshitting me.”

We walk into the Cactus Club, and Parker shoots me a disbelieving look. “You expect me to believe that you just wanted to spend some quality time with your sister here?”

I stifle a laugh because, yeah, this place is, well… not me.

It’s hypermodern, serving the world’s most generic menu, and lounge beats play throughout the space. Every waitress wears a black blouse, black skirt, and black heels, like they signed a contract promising to show zero personality lest it offend a patron.

My dusty boots and faded ball cap make me stick out like a sore thumb, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m not here to make an impression.

I’m here to spy on Julia Silva and her weird fucking blind date, Dominic.

I tug my Stal Brandt cap down lower to be incognito. Then, I make a beeline for the bar where I can sit with my back to the room but still turn and see what’s going on.

I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t. But then I thought about Julia walking into her first real date in over two years, all just to keep Dick Wad off our asses, and I was riled. Parker pulls up the stool beside me, shaking her head. “My god, you’re acting fucking weird. Are we about to take part in some black-market exchange or something? Is a man in a suit going to drop a briefcase at your feet?”

“No, we’re just going to have a few drinks and chat.”

Parker and I order beers and fall into an easy conversation like we always do. With her, there’s no pretense. She sees through my bullshit—I knew she would—but there’s no judgment from her. She figured me out almost instantly, but she doesn’t interrogate me.

One beer turns into two, and our conversation grows more animated and more personal. I share updates on the show, and Parker laments her professor and what a grumbly asshole he is. And before I know it, I take what has to be my fiftieth glance toward the door.

And finally, I lay eyes on Julia. Relief hits me in a rush.

Parker shifts on her stool, scanning the restaurant to follow my gaze. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?” I respond, turning back and hunkering down with my elbows on the bar. Trying and failing to act casual.

“I get it now.”

“You get what?” I say, still playing stupid from under the brim of my cap.

“You’re here spying on the girl you’re in love with.”

“I’m not in love with her. I’m… we’re…”

I sigh and drop my head between my arms in frustration because I don’t know what I am with Julia. Obsessed maybe. I like her. I like her company. I like her sense of humor. I like the way she carries herself at work—she’s such a fucking badass.

I just like.

“Emmett, you are down so bad for this girl. I think you don’t know what that feels like, but, babe, this is it.”

“I’m just looking out for her.” I reply because that part’s not a lie. I am looking out for her.

“Right. But a simple text me when you get home safe would suffice. Does she even know you’re here?”

I lift my head and roll my neck to cover for taking a quick peek over my shoulder toward the hostess stand. Julia has her hair poker-straight, which somehow satisfies me. At least this loser doesn’t get to see her in full force because that natural hair makes me fucking weak in the knees.

Aside from that, she’s wearing a blouse that she’s buttoned to the base of her throat, paired with bell-bottom jeans and high heels. I thank my lucky stars that it’s not that fucking denim dress. She’s far more covered up than the weather calls for, but I understand why she’s chosen this outfit.

She doesn’t know what kind of guy this dude is, and a blind date is even worse that way. Julia has been through enough, and I know how daunting this must be for her.

Dominic? Give me a more suspicious name.

That baby-blue polo shirt? This isn’t a round of golf, pal.

The Cactus Club? Generic as fuck. Just like him.

God, the itch to reach for my phone and tell Riley she’s taken her bad taste in men too far with this one is strong. My stomach churns. Probably because Julia being here is my fault. Guilt leaves me queasy for pushing her into it, but I feel the need to keep watching as they’re led toward a small high-top in the lounge.

“If you were going for incognito with the hat and the surprise attack, the way you’re staring is giving you away.” Parker sips her beer with a satisfied smirk on her lips.

I scoff and resort to casting furtive glances over my shoulder just to make sure that Julia looks comfortable. Because the minute her date takes a turn, I’m going to be on Dominic’s ass like white on rice.

I drop my head, pressing my palms to either side of the chilled pint glass, hoping to appear discreet even as I spiral over what to do next.

“Well, this was short-lived,” Parker chuckles, popping me in the ribs with her elbow.

And then I feel it. Someone standing next to me.

Julia.

She reaches forward, lifting the brim of my hat, and Parker full-on laughs.

I turn and offer Julia a sheepish grin, because I’m so fucking busted right now.

Her eyes roam my face, and I try to cover. “Oh, hey, Julia. Fancy meeting you here.”

She leans in close and whispers in my ear, “Fancy? Remember when you said I was obsessed with you?” She smiles as she draws away, shaking her head at me in disbelief before turning to leave. “Dominic and I are leaving. I’m not going on a date with an audience. Hope you have a nice night.”

I can’t even bring myself to look away from her as she departs. And Parker doesn’t hesitate to call me on it.

“Cool, Em. Really cool.”

I groan, and my cheeks burn as I watch Julia and Dominic leave the restaurant. He looks confused, but eager. And I hate the way his eyes trail over her body when she passes through the door ahead of him.

I thought checking on her would make me feel better, but now she’s leaving. With him. And all I feel is worse.

Anxiety churns in my gut.

Where will they go next? How long will they stay out?

There’s no way she’d go home with him. But if she did, it wouldn’t be any of my business. I told her to go on this date. We both agreed that we couldn’t go on stealing kisses in places where we were sure to get caught.

Guess I didn’t fully comprehend the fact that if she wasn’t kissing me, she might be kissing someone else.

And it’s that thought that keeps me up tossing and turning all night.

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CHAPTER 28

Emmett