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Snickering, she leaned forward, folding her hands on her desk. “You’re probably right.” She took a breath, her expression sobering. The change in mood was palpable. “So you’re trying to figure out which one you like better? Or which one you should pursue?” She paused, tilting her head. “Or which one you hope will pursue you?”

I nodded. “Yeah, all of that.”

Natasha tsked. “Definitely a soap opera.” She huffed out a laugh. “Do you have an idea of what you want to do?”

I frowned. “Not yet. I think I just need to sort it out in my head.”

She sunk back into her office chair. “Completely understandable. Just know I’m here if you need to talk.” She reached into the business card holder she had on her desk and wrote something on the back of one. “Text or call me anytime you need to, if you’d like.”

I glanced over the card, noticing her cell written on the back before I stuffed it in my pocket. “Thanks, Tash. You really are a good friend.”

She grinned like I’d given her the world’s best compliment. “Thank you. You are, too, you know. And speaking of being a good friend . . .”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Yeah, yeah, I already committed to helping with the Halloween Bash. Send me some meeting requests, and I’ll clear my schedule as much as I can.”

She squealed, clapping her hands together, and it was adorable. “You’re the best, Tris! Now go home, and think about what I said. I’ll see you back here on Tuesday, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

***

I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten home, just that I had. My brain kept replaying that elevator incident and the resulting conversation. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but when I got home, I just sat in my comfiest armchair, one that looked out my living room window to some warehouses and the Seattle cityscape beyond, sipped some hot tea, and let my thoughts play out.

Henry was in a starring role, of course, but then so was MrFox43. Something told me that despite the seemingly superficial way we’d met and communicated, a relationship with him would be more than casual. If only I had the guts to reach out to him and try.

On the flip side, Henry had upped his game. He’d always been friendly, but since the night Cameron scened with his online mystery friend—I’d never told Cammy I knew about that—Henry had been turning up the charm. Then Tuesday, when everything changed . . .

I’d always thought the guy was hot, sure. Anyone with eyes could see that. That full head of silver hair, his muscled chest and tattooed arms, the way his ass filled out those jeans he usually wore—yeah, the guy was definitely hot.

But he was sweet, too. Considerate, always thinking of others. He usually had the drink I wanted ready to go when I approached, and near as I could tell, he knew just about every regular’s usual drink and served them with a smile even when his eyes betrayed his exhaustion. More than that, though, he seemed to have a kind word or a funny joke ready to go for anyone who sidled up to his bar.

And he was successful. I’d known he owned the bar, but to see him tirelessly slinging drinks when staff didn’t show or, on the odd nights he wasn’t serving, circling the floor to bus tables, check in with patrons, and occasionally disappear into the back—presumably to handle the behind-the-scenes tasks needed to keep Mix It Up running smoothly—was a huge turn-on.

Who knew competence got me going?

He was smart, dedicated, hilarious, sexy, hard-working, charming, all the things, and—

My heart leapt. God, why hadn’t I seen it before? I wasn’t just into him casually—I had a serious thing for Henry!

Crush didn’t feel like a big enough word. Was I attracted to the man? Definitely. In lust with him? Maybe. In love? Not yet, of course, but I could see it happening sooner rather than later.

My stomach knotted as I thought about being in a relationship with such an amazing man. He was older than me, sure, but that was an even bigger selling point. But a relationship? I hadn’t wanted that—hadn’t let myself want that—for a really long time.

Henry Ravenwood—I’d learned his last name years ago when we’d been introduced and never forgotten—checked all my boxes and then some. Boxes I didn’t even know I had. Boxes that if Cameron had told me existed a month ago, I would’ve laughed in his face, insisting that all the things couldn’t possibly exist in the same man.

Henry was my unicorn. My dream guy.

And he’d been right in front of me this whole time.

But . . .

Something about MrFox called to me, too. He had a lot of the same qualities as Henry, come to think of it. And he was a Daddy. I needed that.

Henry might not be a Daddy. He certainly didn’t attend our Daddies and Subs Club, and I’d overheard Ethan invite him on more than one occasion. But did that necessarily mean he wasn’t a Daddy? Or was he just trying to keep his personal and work lives separate?

I chewed on my bottom lip, wishing my brain wasn’t so muddled. Thinking things out had helped temporarily, but now I was back to being a mess of jumbled, conflicting emotions. Because how could I feel something for both Henry and MrFox?

And what the hell should I do about it?