Page 44 of How To Not Need You

I look at Ben. He’s already nodding, the absolute traitor. I look back at Luca, who is sipping his espresso with the serene contentment that seems out of place.

Harper doesn’t move or fill the silence with more words because she doesn’t need to. She just stands there, one hand resting lightly on the back of the empty chair, and waits me out. I exhale. Drop my head back until I’m staring at the ceiling, at the exposed beams and the string of fairy lights.

“This is blackmail,” I say to the ceiling.

“It’s friendship,” Harper corrects. “With incentives.”

I look at her. “What exactly are we doing?”

“Nothing dramatic,” Luca says. “Just keeping an eye on someone for a few hours. See who she meets. Take a few photos if anything interesting happens.”

I exchange a look with Ben before turning back to Luca. “Who’s ‘someone’?”

“Rebecca.”

Neither of us reacts to the name. Luca sighs. “Right. Context. Natalie’s been in love with her best friend Matthew since they were kids. Matthew is currently dating Rebecca.”

Ben grins. “That already sounds complicated.”

“It gets worse. Rebecca’s cheating on him.”

“Allegedly,” Harper adds.

Luca waves a hand. “Almost definitely.”

“Those are very different things,” I point out.

“Which is why we need proof.”

I’m starting to see where this is going, and I don’t like it.

“Natalie tried to warn Matthew,” Harper says, “but Rebecca’s spent months convincing him Natalie is jealous and trying to break them up. He doesn’t believe her.”

Ben’s grin disappears. “That’s actually pretty awful.”

“It is,” Luca says.

I fold my arms. “So you want us to follow Rebecca and find something Matthew can’t dismiss.”

Luca smiles. “See? This is why I like you.”

“You like me because I understand basic sentences?”

“Among other things.”

I look at Harper. Then Luca. Then Ben, who is already nodding like we’ve been recruited by ASIO instead of a bookstore owner with questionable boundaries.

“Fine,” I say. “When?”

Luca’s smile is entirely too pleased. “Tomorrow morning. Ben has the details.”

Ben blinks. “I do?”

“You do now.”

Ben pulls out his phone and immediately starts making notes with the enthusiasm of a man planning a weekend away instead of amateur surveillance. I drain the last of my coffee and try not to think about the fact I’ve just agreed to spy on a woman I'd never met because Harper and Luca asked me to.

The truly concerning part? I'd probably do it again. Harper's hand lands on my shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze.