Chapter 2
Eli
I’m going to kill my boys. My business partner, Taylor, has been on a mission to get me back into the dating scene. He’s ramped up his efforts with my five-year-old’s newest obsession: finding a mom.
“All my friends have moms, Dad. I need one too.”
It’s tough explaining life to a five-year-old on a good day. Trying to tell him it’s not that simple when there are tears welling up in those big blue eyes is goddamn near impossible.
That’s why I’m standing in Willow Park, a blindfold on my face, my special occasion jeans clinging to my legs. I shuffle my feet again, pulling the fabric away from my skin. The jeans are too damn tight, and the shirt is made from some kind of clingy material.
Taylor’s wife, Hazel, left him instructions on what to dress me in: my dark-wash Levis and a dark blue t-shirt—one I had never seen before.
Hazel bought it in a size too small, but I took it back to the store to exchange it.
I know she meant to show off the muscles I’ve built after years of working construction, but the thing felt like torture.
I wasn’t about to show up to a stranger photo session wearing a shirt tight enough that you could see my nipples on camera.
I think back to Tucker’s excited little face before I left. “Do you think you’ll love her, Daddy?”
“I don’t know, Bub.” I ruffled his curly brown hair.
“Uncle T and I have a bet that you’re gonna love her.”
I shook my head, giving him my best smile.
The truth is, I haven’t had time to date. Between running my construction business and raising Tucker, I’ve put myself on the back burner. I have everything I need already. Tucker is my whole entire life. I don’t need a partner to make me happy—I’m already happy.
When Lara died in a car wreck, I thought a part of me died with her. I’ve realized over the years that it didn’t. I see that part of me, and all the good parts of Lara, in our son.
He has her picture on his nightstand, but Tucker was only one when she died. He doesn’t remember her or the accident. All he knows is that she loved him, but she’s not here anymore.
He doesn’t know that the pillow I keep in my closet still has her satin pillowcase on it. Her scent has long since worn off, but I can’t make myself remove it. Can’t let her go. Tucker doesn’t get to see the bad nights where I collapse in the shower, barely able to breathe.
Raising him alone was never part of my plan.
Losing her? It should have destroyed me.
The boys wouldn’t let it, though, my two best friends from high school rallied beside me.
We have a schedule worked out for Tuck, so he’s never forgotten.
He’s never spent a second in daycare, and there is always someone there to pick him up after school.
He has a room at both of their houses. My little man might not have a mom, but he has a family who would go to war for him—and that means more to me than they will ever know.
“Okay.” Ramona’s slightly raspy voice interrupts the crickets and frogs, bringing me back to the situation I’ve found myself in.
“I’m walking you up to your match. Once I get y’all positioned, you’ll be facing away from each other.
I’m going to snap a photo of you with your blindfolds on, then I’ll take them off, and we’ll do a countdown. ”
I feel the warmth of a body press into my back, palms sweaty with anticipation.
“Great, you’re in place,” she says to my ‘date.’ “Are you comfortable holding hands?”
I shrug, hoping whoever’s behind me will talk. I want to hear her voice—get a feel for what she’s thinking at this moment. I feel her shoulders lift against my back instead. I smile to myself—guess neither one of us are big talkers.
“Perfect!” Ramona slides my arm back, heat twisting up my arm as a soft hand is pressed into mine.
I interlace our fingers, listening as Ramona steps away from us.
“Oh my god, you guys look so cute!” Ramona squeals.
“Okay, coming for the blindfolds!” The black tie wrapped around my head falls free, my eyes taking a moment to adjust to the foggy afternoon.
I can see the pond from here, a metal rowboat sitting next to the wooden dock. I haven’t seen that before, and I’ve been here plenty of times. I used to fish here with my best friend. We’d spend all day out here in the summer, sometimes it felt like we’d never leave.
“Okay, great. Just stay in that pose, and I’ll grab a couple shots here.”
I block out the noise of the camera clicking, my chest rising on a deep inhale. This is crazy. What the fuck am I doing here?
Soft fingers squeeze mine. I don’t know if she’s trying to comfort herself or me, but it helps. I squeeze back, a smile lifting the corners of my lips.
“Alright, you two, on the count of three. One, two, three—”
Our hands break apart as we spin around. Long, dark brown curls fill my vision. Pretty brown eyes peer up at me, squinting when she realizes who she’s looking at. I can’t help the grin that slashes across my face. A laugh bursts out of my chest.
“Are you kidding me?” she squeals, shoving my shoulder hard enough that I have to take a step back. “Eli!”
“Did you know that we knew each other?” I ask Ramona, but I can’t keep my eyes off Sibyl.
This has to be a prank, a perfectly planned and executed prank. There’s no way Kellan didn’t know we were both coming here to do this. Only…now that I think about it…I told him it was a blind date. I never told him I was doing this.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Sibyl grins at me. Her eyes are bright and fuck, she looks beautiful. Stunning.
I rarely see Sibyl Massy outside of work or at her brother’s. I can’t remember the last time I saw her in a dress. And this dress…I give a low whistle.
“Damn, Sibby.” I snatch her hand, twirling her around before drawing her into me.
She giggles, her hands coming up to push my chest away. “Stop it, you idiot.”
“This has never happened before.” Ramona covers the distance between us in three quick strides.
I almost forgot she was here. Completely forgot she has an assistant filming us not ten feet away. I can’t take my eyes off Sibyl. I’ve never looked at her—not like this. She’s Kellan’s little sister. I’ve never thought about her as more than that.
Maybe it’s the fog, or the adrenaline. But I’m looking now. The Massys are good-looking people, and Sibyl is no exception. Her pale skin makes her dark hair and deep brown eyes pop.
The dress she’s wearing accentuates her insanely small waist, her hips flaring with the right amount of curve. She’s all woman now. And she is fucking gorgeous.
“Where’s Tucker?” Sibyl looks around me, like I might have a five-year-old hiding behind my legs. “Oh my God.” Big round eyes turn back to meet mine. The depth in them takes my breath away. “Kellan has him, I forgot! He said you had a blind date today!”
She dissolves into giggles, bracing a hand on my forearm to keep herself upright. “How the hell did we match?”
I don’t have an answer for that. I’ve known Sibyl her whole damn life. Never in a million years did I think I’d find myself on a date with her.
“On paper, you two are an ideal match.” Ramona reinserts herself in the conversation. “How do you two know each other?”
“I’m her brother’s friend.” I can’t stop fucking smiling. This is wild.
“My brother’s best friend.” Sibyl swipes a thumb at the corner of either eye, laughing so hard she’s crying.
“Well, this is crazy.” Ramona chuckles, shaking her head. “I totally get it, if you guys don’t want to go through with the session.”
My heart climbs into my throat. My chest grows tighter as the thought sobers me. I glance back at Sibyl, a soft smile on her face.
I don’t want to back out of the shoot. My heart skips a beat as the thought catches me off guard.
I did my research. I watched the videos Ramona has on social media. The point of a stranger session is to put people who don’t know each other in intimate positions—to see how they connect, or don’t.
Sibyl lowers her eyes, avoiding my gaze as the answer gets caught in my mouth.
I can’t do this session with Kellan’s little sister. Can I?