The Introvert's Guide to Online Dating (The Introvert's Guide 1)

“Yeah, no. Not quite.” I folded my arms and tucked my hands against the side of my boobs.

They were freezing.

“Well, when he talked about meeting Cora, I realized it wasn’t serious, and then this morning…”

“I confirmed all your suspicions.”

“Pretty much.” She shifted. “I didn’t know. That you had feelings for him. If I did, I wouldn’t have set him up on the dating website. I, uh, I actually assumed he had them for you, and I kind of hoped the website would make him be honest about it.”

“It’s fine.” I smiled, but there wasn’t much to it. “It was never meant to be anything more than just sex. It started after that stupid Valentine’s blind date thing at the bar. We were drunk, came back here, and it just happened.”

“But it is more,” she said softly. “And judging by the look on your face, you like him a lot more than you’re letting on.”

“Can we leave it? Please?”

“Tori.”

“I’m pretty much in love with him, Kinsley, okay?” The words spilled out of me. “But I can’t stand to be around him because it just reminds me that I’m nothing more than a booty call to him. He’s coming over on Friday, and I’m ending it, okay?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. You said it yourself that the relationship has to evolve or end, and I’m sure Cora is perfect for him, so I’m ending it.”

“You’re not going to tell him how you feel?”

“No, and neither are you,” I said firmly.

“What if he feels the same?”

“This stays between us, Kinsley.”

“I understand. I won’t tell him. I promise.” She stepped closer to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“No, I’m not, but I’ll be fine.” My smile was pathetic. “Nobody else knows, do they?”

“Only Josh, but that’s because we figured it out together. We haven’t told anyone else. It’s none of their business.”

“None of yours, either.”

“Hide it better, then.” She grinned, and for the first time all day, I really, truly smiled.

Thank God.

CHAPTER NINE – TORI

rule nine: know the other person is actually getting your messages. otherwise, you’re just a man shouting at the coach of his favorite sports team on tv.

“How did your date go?” Dylan asked Colton, peering down the table. “It was last night, right?”

I stiffened for a moment but focused on picking the pickles out of my burger. As soon as I took them out, Saylor swiped them and put them on the side of her plate.

“No, later. We’re meeting for a drink,” Colton replied. “I might cancel. Seb was a slave driver today.”

“Nah, it’s just a drink,” Dylan continued, dipping a fry into ketchup. “Where are you meeting?”

“Here,” he replied, referring to Bronco’s.

Note to self: go home soon.

“What time?”

“About an hour.”

“Jesus, you sound like a pair of girls,” Saylor said, picking up her burger. “Shut up.”

Dylan laughed. “Don’t think I haven’t seen you stealing Tori’s pickles. I’m not sleeping in your room tonight.”

I snorted, quickly burying the laughter.

“Good. I feel like starfishing,” she shot back. “Your long legs take up too much room anyway.”

He grinned at her. “You’re not usually complaining about my long limbs.”

“Mic drop,” I muttered.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.” I mustered up a smile for him. “So, Cora?” I said to Colton, pretending.

He didn’t look me in the eye.

Hm.

“Yeah, Cora. She’s in town tonight so…”

“You knew about her?” Saylor eyed me suspiciously. “How do you know her name?”

“Because I’m fucking psychic, obviously,” I deadpanned. “He told me.”

“When? You two can barely have a conversation without arguing.”

“I didn’t say we weren’t arguing.”

“Jesus, I was talking to Kinsley about her yesterday, and Tori was there.” Colton’s lie was swift and plausible. “Does that answer your question, Sherlock?”

“Miss Marple is preferred. Sherlock Holmes was a cocaine addict,” Saylor said without batting an eyelid.

“You’re right. You’re insane enough as it is without drugs.”

Dylan choked and hit his fist against his chest.

“If you were laughing, I hope you die on that fry,” Saylor said flatly.

You could literally feel the love.

It was magic.

“He’s not wrong,” I replied. “You are, as evidenced by that response to your boyfriend choking.”

“Meh. He deserves that.” She reached over and snagged two of his fries like she didn’t have a plateful of her own.

I rolled my eyes. I still wasn’t entirely sure how I’d ended up on this weird little dinner date. I’d only come into the bar in the hopes that Simon or Jasmine would be able to smuggle me a burger to take home. Saylor and Dylan had already been here, and no sooner had I sat down than Colton had appeared.

If I were the suspicious type, I’d say it was planned.

The fact he was going from here to another table with another girl said it really was just coincidence.

And boy, that kind of sucked.

“Is that barn done yet?” Saylor asked. “At Seb’s place?”

Colton shook his head. “Not yet. The bones are in place, but there’s a lot to do. This is the one that’s going to be the place where the camps will stay, so we basically have to build all the rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, all that kind of stuff. It’s a big job. It won’t be done until next year by the time the winter hits.”