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For once, we didn’t continue to tease each other, and Corbin took the tablet from me to read the next listener question. “I’m dating this guy I really like. This is a first for me. What’s your idea of a perfect date?”
Three sets of eyes turned my direction. “What? I’m the only one who can answer this? I’m sure Dec has some ideas since he’s got a swoony boyfriend.” Sebastian was there with us at Marcus’s, but he was in the living room, working on his screenplay while we were recording.
Dec grinned. “Yeah, but you’re the romantic, babe. This one’s on you.”
“I hate you.” But really, I loved this. No way could I show I loved it, though. “I don’t know… It all depends on the person. You have to think about who you’re dating and what they like. Elliott took me on a perfect date a few weeks ago where he basically just spoiled me the whole time. It might sound ridiculous, and maybe a little selfish for me to say, but it feels really fucking good. And he knows I think it feels really fucking good, so that’s what he did. It meant a lot to me because I knew he’d put thought into what he knew would make me happy. Sometimes it matters less what you do than how you do it…I mean, in general, Elliott is really good at dates. Sometimes we don’t even do much, but it’s fun and romantic just because we enjoy each other’s company and…” Oh shit. Oh shit! What the fuck was I saying, and why was all of it about Elliott?
Abort! Abort! Abort!
But if I stopped now, the guys would know something was up. I could do this. I could find a way to play it off. I could keep this going and pretend it was all in the plan, and then I’d freak out later. “Also, Elliott mentioned once that he loves Cuban desserts, so I made a bunch of them. And though we didn’t do anything other than watch movies all night and stuff our faces, I could tell how much it meant to him. So I guess my answer would be that the perfect date is whatever is perfect for the person you’re dating.”
No one said anything for a minute, all of them watching me—Corbin with mischief, Declan with concern, and Marcus with curiosity.
I cleared my throat. “Okay, come on. I can’t be the only one to answer this question.”
They managed to snap themselves out of it. Marcus went on about our sponsors and new products, promoted our merch, and then we ended the show.
“I did that on purpose.” I stood and walked out of the room, hoping this conversation would be over. They all followed me, stumbling over each other.
“What’s going on?” Sebastian asked when we got to the living room.
Corbin said, “Someone asked about dates, and Parker rambled on about how perfect Elliott is and how much he spoils him. It made my heart go pitter-patter. That’s never happened before, so I’m curious.”
“Your heart didn’t pitter-patter!” I said too loudly.
“How do you know? It’s not your heart.”
“Um…can we get on topic here?” Declan interrupted. “Do you have feelings for Elliott?”
“No! No. Totally not. I said I wasn’t going to do that. I told you guys we are dating, and it’s not like I could have answered that question about anyone else, seeing as I’m married to the guy and everyone thinks it’s for real.”
“The marriage is, legally speaking,” Marcus said.
“Not helping,” I told my friend. “I don’t like Elliott. Not that way.” But holy shit, it was getting hard to breathe because I hadn’t done that on purpose.
“Maybe this is a good thing,” Sebastian said. “Think how cool a love story that would be: The Romantic, who had bad luck with men before, finds his own happily ever after after accidentally getting married. That’s like a romance novel. The story practically writes itself.”
“Thank you!” I said before realizing what I was saying. “I mean, not thank you because I like Elliott or I think it’s real, but thank you because it’s not a big deal.” Though he hadn’t said that, had he? I fell onto the couch. “Oh God. What if I like Elliott? What is wrong with me? Why am I so broken?”
“Babe…” Declan sat beside me. I covered my face, refusing to look at him. “Babe,” he said again.
“Sebastian, control your man,” I said from beneath my hands.
Sebastian chuckled. “He might be my man, but he’s your best friend and this has nothing to do with me.”
I spread two fingers and peeked through them. “Traitor!”
Bastian smiled at me. He was great and fit in with us so well.
Declan rubbed my back. “You’re not broken. You have a big heart with a lot of love to give. And when you find the right person, they’re going to be so fucking lucky to be on the receiving end of that. If you fall for him, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
