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“Me either.” Meghan shook her head.
Harper glanced at her. “That’s why I was hoping you two are an item. I know James finds life so much better with Alyssa and me around. He says we give him balance, even on those days when everything goes wrong.”
“Maybe he’ll find the right woman one day.” Meghan’s mouth went dry at the thought.
“I hope so.” Harper sounded wistful. She bit her lip, looking carefully at Meghan. “Or maybe he already has.”
James looked up from the dishwasher, his brows knitting together. “Tell me you didn’t pretend she was your girlfriend.”
“Yeah, I did. I thought it was the only way I could get Carlyn off my back.” Rich passed him another rinsed plate and leaned back on the counter.
Letting out a low whistle, James slid the plate into the bottom rack. “And how did that go?”
“About as well as you’re probably thinking it did. Carlyn started hanging around the apartment pool and talked to Meghan’s kid.”
“Shit.” James shook his head. “I keep telling you, a restraining order’s the only way. I’m surprised Meghan’s even speaking to you after all that.” He chuckled. “I thought fake relationships only happened on soap operas.”
“I can’t take a restraining order out on Carlyn. Not yet, anyway. Belle’s show is soon. If I take out an RO I won’t be able to go.”
“Is Meghan going with you to the show?”
“That’s our agreement.” If she was still up for it. He wouldn’t make her if she wasn’t.
James’s voice was light. “She’s pretty, man.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“And she has the hots for you.”
Rich lifted a brow. “Are we really going there?”
James shrugged. “I’m just saying, all night you kept looking at each other. Every time one of you said something funny, the other one laughed like crazy. She likes you. You like her. I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“I remember having exactly this same conversation with you about Harper. And you told me all the things that stood in the way of the two of you being together.”
James grinned. “Yeah, but you were right all along. We were meant for each other. And as your friend, I’m telling you the same thing. Meghan likes you, and I know you like her. I don’t see why you don’t just ask her out.”
“You know why.” Rich’s voice was low.
James closed the dishwasher, turning it on. “I know why you think it’s a no go. But maybe you’re wrong.”
“I kissed her,” Rich blurted out.
“What?”
“We kissed. A couple of weeks ago. And then I ghosted her.” Rich blew out a mouthful of air. “She deserves better than me, man. She deserves somebody who always puts her and Isla first. Someone who makes her smile instead of cry. Who’s always there when she needs him. And that’s not me.”
“So you’re gonna stand back and watch some other guy snap her up?” James frowned. “And you’re okay with that? You’ll be okay seeing them kissing in the lobby and hallway when you walk out of your door? Because she’s a catch. You know it and I know it.”
His breath caught in his throat. The idea of her with another guy felt like a gunshot to the chest. Seeing somebody else make her smile, make her laugh. Seeing somebody else taking care of her and Isla.
When he looked up, James was smiling at him. “Come on, let’s go join them out in the yard. Before you burst a blood vessel or something.”
“I love your friends,” Meghan said, as they stepped out of the elevator onto the tenth floor. “Harper’s a hoot. And Alyssa is so gorgeous.”
“They loved you, too.” Rich’s smile was soft. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“That’s what friends do, right?” And she was okay with that. Or she would be, once her body got the memo and stopped reacting every time he was near. “We spend time together, have fun, then go back to our own apartments.”
