Page 36 of Reckless With You

The girls met gazes, but I ignored it.

“And you know,” I added, looking down at my phone so I wasn’t actually looking at them, “Caleb is great at organizing everybody. Maybe he could be the wedding planner.” I looked up as Erin laughed, and Zoey shrugged.

“What? It could happen.”

“I really want to see your big brother talking about taffeta and lace.”

I laughed at Zoey’s words. “He’d be good at it.”

“A former boilermaker who now works in construction? Sure, honey.”

I shook my head at Zoey and took a sip of my coffee.

I looked over at Erin, who stiffened. I frowned.

“What is it?

“Shit,” she whispered under her breath.

“Is it your ex?”

“No,” Erin said, looking at Zoey. “But just know we didn’t plan this. I’m sorry.”

I frowned at both of them and then looked up as a very attractive blond man came walking up to us. He had tattoos down his forearms from what I could see peeking out of his Henley sleeves, and he was built like a quarterback. Broad shoulders, slender hips, and thick thighs.

He was sexy as hell and had a wicked grin.

But from the way Erin had whispered those words to me, I was a little afraid.

“Hey there. I was just thinking about you guys,” the man said as he walked up to us.

“Jace. I didn’t know you would be here,” Erin said, and I could hear the honesty in her words, but I was still worried. I didn’t know why, but if she seemed upset, I was afraid.

“I was over at Montgomery Ink getting my consult done. Walked over here for coffee, and saw you guys. Good to see you, too, Zoey.” He turned to me and grinned. “And you must be Amelia.” He smiled, and my stomach dropped.

Oh. So, he knew who I was. And from the way the girls kept looking at each other guiltily, I had a feeling I knew exactly what this was.

I wasn’t going to get angry. My friends were just trying to be helpful, but I didn’t want to be helped. All I wanted was to be okay and not pitied. I didn’t want to be in a position where people tried to make me feel better. While it might make me a horrible person, I didn’t want any of this. Why couldn’t I be normal?

“Yes, I’m Amelia. I take it your name is Jace?”

“So, they’ve told you about me, too, have they?”

“No, can’t say they have.”

Why was this so awkward? Why did I hate it?

“Sorry, Jace,” Erin said quickly, wringing her hands in front of her.

“We didn’t actually mention to Amelia yet that we wanted to set her up on a blind date like this.”

Like.This.

What the hell?

“Oh,” Jace said quickly, his cheeks turning red.

“Sorry about that. They didn’t actually say you would be here or anything. This is a total coincidence. But it’s nice to meet you.”