Chapter 13

Harper’s POV

I let out a slow, tired sigh resting my forehead against the cool surface of the wall.

"So, a double date? What do you think?"

Eric’s words still echoed in my head.

At first_ I hadn’t even processed the question, He had flashed me that eager grin, practically bouncing with excitement, eyes gleaming like he had just come up with the perfect plan.

"Come on, it'll be fun! You and your guy, me and my girl, it’s perfect!"

Fun? For who?

I had forced a polite laugh, my brain scrambling for an escape route. "I don’t know… he’s usually pretty busy."

Which was technically true. But even if he weren’t, I still wouldn’t subject myself to that kind of torture.

Eric had pouted like a child who had just been told Santa wasn’t real. "Oh, come on. Just one night? We could go somewhere nice. Have some drinks. It’ll be like a test run before the wedding!"

I had nearly choked on my own spit. A test run?

Then—by some miracle—

BRRRRRR. BRRRRRR.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. A work call.

Salvation.

I had barely managed to mumble an excuse before dashing out the door. clutching my phone like it was a golden ticket to freedom.

Now, standing alone in the hallway, I exhaled sharply.

That had been too close.

Eric was probably still in the house, waiting for me to come back. And I had no valid reason to disappear forever.

My brain scrambled for options, cycling through increasingly desperate ideas.

Maybe I could fake a sudden stomach ache? No, too dramatic. What if I pretended to get another call? No, I’d already used that excuse—I’d look like an idiot if my phone rang for real.

Or… maybe I could trip over something? Just a little fall, nothing too serious—maybe twist my ankle, just enough to go up to my room and never speak of this again.

I winced.

Knowing my luck, I’d actually break something and end up stuck in a full-body cast while Eric planned a hospital-friendly double date.

My hands pressed against my temples. "Think, Harper."

And then, for some godforsaken reason, the thought popped into my head:

'Maybe I should ask Riley to set me up on a blind date…'

I blinked.

What?

No_ Absolutely not.

I physically shook my head, as if I could rattle the ridiculous thought out of my skull.

That wasn’t a real solution. That was panic logic.

I groaned, rubbing down my face.

"I need a break from my own life."

Ethan’s POV

I leaned back in my chair arms folded, watching David with narrowed eyes.

There was something different about him today. A shift.

It wasn’t obvious—not something the average person would catch. But I wasn’t the average person. I had worked with David long enough to pick up on the subtleties—the way his energy fluctuated, the things he didn’t say.

And today, there was a certain… glow to him.

Like something had happened.

I tapped my fingers against the desk, keeping my tone light—too light. "So… how was dinner?"

David barely looked up. "Huh?"

"Dinner. With Riley."

His reaction was small, but I caught it—the slight pause, the flicker of hesitation before he answered.

"Oh. Right. Yeah, it was… fine."

I lifted a brow. "Just fine?"

David hesitated again. Like he wasn’t sure if I was actually asking or if I was setting him up for something.

"Yeah. Normal. Nothing weird."

I hummed. "Weird?"

David blinked, realizing his mistake. "I mean—uh—not weird. Just… average."

A beat of silence stretched between us.

Guilty people talk too much.

I leaned forward slightly, rubbing my jaw.

I wasn’t mad.

Not at David, at least.

But at Riley?

Slightly.

I had expected her to pull something reckless. That was practically her hobby.

But throwing herself at my assistant? That was a new level of commitment.

Honestly, I was almost impressed.

I still remembered our first date—the way she had sat there, casually discussing her sex life like she was reading a weather report.

At the time, I had assumed she was trying to shock me, or maybe test my limits.

But this?

This felt like an escalation.

And David—poor, gullible David—had walked straight into it.

I smirked slightly. "She make any moves on you?"

David nearly choked. "W-what? No! Of course not!"

I shrugged. "Wouldn’t blame her. You’re a catch."

David made a strangled noise. "That’s not funny."

I fought back a chuckle. "You sure? Because I think it’s hilarious."

David groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can we talk about literally anything else?"

I let the silence stretch for a moment before exhaling. "Alright. Lead the way."

David nodded and turned for the door. "To Riley’s?"

I stopped mid-step.

"Why Riley?" My voice wasn’t sharp, but it carried just enough edge to make him hesitate.

He blinked, looking at me like I just asked him to solve a calculus equation. "Uh… I mean… you said lead the way."

I stared' at him for a second, then dragged a hand down my face, exhaling. "Didn’t you just come in here saying there was an urgent meeting?"

His mouth opened slightly, Then closed.

His brows pinched together like he was trying to make sense of his own words. "Yeah. Yeah, I did, I just_" He let out a nervous chuckle. "We were talking about Riley earlier, so I guess I got… confused?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Confused?"

David' scratched the back of his neck. "I mean, it’s not weird, right? We were talking about her, so her name was already in my head, and I just...." He cleared his throat. "It was an automatic thing."

I leaned against my desk, watching him squirm. "An automatic thing."

He nodded. "Yeah."

Silence stretched between us.

David shifted his weight from one foot to the other "I mean, you did mention her before.. And then we were talking about dinner, and then you said ‘lead the way’ and—".

"David."

He immediately shut up.

I studied him for a second longer, then exhaled through my nose, shaking my head slightly.

Under my breath—but loud enough for him to hear I muttered, "Maybe you're the only one eager to see her."

David stiffened. "Ethan—"

But I was already heading for the door, a smirk tugged at my lips.

This was getting interesting.