The Bookworm's Guide to Dating (The Bookworm's Guide 1)

I fought a smile.

“I know you’ll look after her, and I have to admit that’s she’s been extra happy since you started dating.” He looked at me and said begrudgingly, “And you have, too. I noticed something was different, but I was too busy with the house and everything to think about asking you. If I had…”

“I would have told you,” I admitted, leaning back in the booth. “If you asked.”

“I figured. I really should have figured it out.” He leaned forward, still toying with the bottle. “Shit—fucking hell. That night I stopped by yours and she said she’d had a bad date and you let her shower.”

I grimaced.

“Not true?”

“Not true,” I confirmed.

“I don’t want to know, do I?”

“I’m gonna go with no.”

Colton nodded slowly as our food was brought over. We waited for a moment until we were alone again and then he said, “I’m okay with it.”

“Me and Kinsley?”

He looked up. “I know how she feels about you, Josh. But she was willing to give you up if it meant I would be all right.”

Of course she was. That was Kinsley to her core. “That doesn’t surprise me. She’s done nothing but worry about you ever since we decided to start seeing each other.”

“Then she ran out and burst into tears,” he said dryly. “And then I knew she was serious. That this isn’t just… a casual thing. At least not for her.”

I looked him in the eye. “It’s not for me either, Colt. I’ve had feelings for her for a long time.”

He stilled, and a bit of melted cheese fell onto the table. “A long time?”

“Yeah. Just never did anything about it.” I paused. “Never felt like I could.”

“You know that pact is dumb, right? Stupid shit we made when we were kids.” He glanced away. “I only did it because I asked Piper out and she turned me down.”

I fought back a laugh. “Seriously? I’ve been feeling guilty this whole fuckin’ time because of it, and you already tried it with my sister?”

Colt rubbed his jaw, hiding a smile with his hand. “Yeah. I was feeling salty that day, but I never thought you’d stick to it after all these years.”

“For fuck’s sake. Kinsley’s gonna kill you.”

“We aren’t telling her,” he said quickly. “I don’t need a bruise to match yours.”

“She can’t punch.”

“Yeah, but she can throw a book, and that shit hurts.” He snorted. “Look, man, I don’t care that you’re together. Just that neither of you told me. But it’s done now, and we can all move on. But if you hurt her, I’ll make sure I break your jaw, not just bruise it.”

I grinned. “I’ll deserve that one, too.”

“Are you friends yet? We’re hungry and you’re eating all our fries.” Tori sat on the opposite side next to Colt and bumped him along the seat with her hip. “You ate them all! What the hell?”

“God’s sake,” Kinsley whined, sitting down. “I’m hungry.”

“We’re fine, thanks for asking,” I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Would you like some food?”

“You’re paying for it,” she replied, leaning into my side. “Are you really fine?”

Colton nodded. “It’s all good. Just don’t be all lovey and mushy in front of me. You’re still my sister, and I don’t wanna see it.”

Tori wrinkled her face up. “Nobody wants to see it, Colton, but it doesn’t mean they should keep six feet away from each other at all times.”

He side-eyed her. “Your attitude sucks.”

“Your attitude sucks,” she shot back. “Now come and order food with me.”

“I don’t want—”

“I wasn’t asking you.” Tori grabbed hold of his shirt and tugged, yanking him after her as she got up.

Colt muttered something under his breath, but he slid out of the booth and followed her in the direction of the bar.

“Do you think—” I stopped, frowning.

“What?” Kinsley looked at me. “Do I think what?”

“Do you think there’s something going on with those two?”

“What? Tori and my brother?” She leaned back, one eyebrow raised. “No. No way.”

“Think about it. They’re always bickering with each other, and it’s not that crazy. She’s pretty and funny and—”

“Carry on and I might start thinking you’ve got a thing for her.”

“Shut it.” I tapped the tip of her nose, and she wrinkled it up. “You don’t think so?”

She spun on the seat and peered around the side of the booth. “I don’t know. Maybe. But Colton? And Tori? No.”

“Why? Because he’s your brother and she’s one of your best friends?” I wiggled my eyebrows teasingly.

She knocked her fist into my arm as she straightened. “No. I don’t care about that. I just… wouldn’t put those two together.”

“Nobody would have put us together, but here we are.” I pulled her into me and kissed her. “Right?”

She tilted her head back and looked up at me, and her smile danced in her eyes as well as on her lips. “Yeah. Here we are.”