“I’m here if you want to talk.”
“I know. And I appreciate that. But I’ll be fine. My agent already has another script for me to read.”
“Okay, good. That’s great.”
“Exactly, so let’s go. This movie won’t watch itself.”
Reed’s quiet for the first ten minutes until I start laughing out loud, clearly enjoying myself, and his mood lightens. It’s hard tobe down when you're watching easy comedy gold. And I thank the universe that I made this choice.
We’re about halfway through when Reed’s phone buzzes across the coffee table, drawing our attention. He leans forward to check the screen and groans as a sarcastic laugh escapes him.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.” He shoves the phone face down next to him and turns back to the TV, faking amusement at something that’s clearly not that funny.
“Reed?”
“Shhh,” he snaps jokingly before grinning. “I’m trying to watch.”
I’m about to argue whenmyphone buzzes, and I snort when I read the message.
Amelia changed the group to “Reed’s Support Group.”
I found out a few months back that Reed, Luke, Dylan, and surprisingly, Easton have a group chat together. I thought nothing of it, only using it to tease the guys without them knowing, until Paige needed us. Then I created one for the girls. It was previously named Paige’s Support Group.
If Amelia’s changing it then—
Amelia: So… Luke tells me Reed needs our help. He’s fed up with the friend zone
Amelia’s message cuts off my speculation and a laugh bursts out of me. “Nothing happened, huh?”
“What?” Reed’s eyes flash to mine before he glances down at my phone. “Dammit. Luke, right?”
“Nope. Why would you say that?” I fake innocence and he rolls his eyes just as more messages come through, telling us all that Reed needs our help with his love life.
What did he say when he was drunk?
This is exactly the type of distraction I need.
I read my messages privately as Reed gets bombarded with his own, but when Keeley suggests fake dating as an option, I finally show him my screen.
“You need to shut it down. Now.” Reed forces a laugh, running his hands down his face. “I wish I’d never said anything to Luke. He’s taken my wordswayout of context.”
I don’t bother hiding my smirk as I think about his drunkenness. It just gets better and better. “According to Amelia, you told Luke your ‘love life was fucked’ and that you ‘needed to fix it.’”
Reed closes his eyes as his head falls back, the annoyance clear in his expression. “So what you’re saying is that everyone’s taking Luke’s word for it, because I was too drunk to remember?”
“Yep.”
“Meaning…you’re not shutting it down?”
“Nope.” We lock eyes again and I hold my stare, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face.
He matches my intensity but doesn’t respond until I raise an eyebrow in challenge, instantly regretting it when something new crosses his features.
As though an amusing thought hit him, he bites back his smile, but the corners of his lips are bursting at the seams. “What’s that look about?” I ask, almost afraid of the answer.
“I’ve come up with a plan.”
