“Does Sterling know you think his brothers are hot?” Piper asks.
“By the way, thanks.” Jade winks. “I know my hubby is fine, and I don’t mind if you look.”
“What she said,” Palmer and Kennedy say at the same time, causing us all to laugh.
“I don’t know that it’s ever come up,” I answer Piper.
“Hmm.” She sips her drink.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “Just processing this new information. On second thought, fixing you up isn’t our best idea.”
I groan. “I’ve heard all of you admit the same thing before. Why is the heat all of a sudden turned my way?”
“Because you’re in denial,” Palmer replies.
“I’m not in denial. There has never been anything between Sterling and me outside of our friendship. He’s been my best friend since we were kids. That’s it.”
“Then explain why his eyes follow you everywhere you go?” Ramsey asks.
“He’s protective. I’m more like a little sister.”
“I call bullshit,” Jade replies.
“I say we test this theory,” Kennedy chimes in.
“Oh.” Palmer points at her. “I like the way you think.”
“Fine.” I huff out a laugh. “There is nothing to test, but if you ladies want to try, go right ahead.” I shrug, knowing damn good and well it’s going to be a wasted effort on their part.
Sterling is my best friend. I love him, but that’s all we are. Is he hot as sin? Yes. Have I thought about more with him. Yes. I’m human, and the younger me romanticized about us being more hundreds of times. Adult me, rational me, knows that’s not going to happen. We’ve been friends for over twenty years. We’ve had plenty of time to change our relationship status, and neither of us has ever attempted to do so.
“You’re wasting your time,” I tell the group.
“This is going to be fun.” Ramsey grins.
“Your idea of fun is skewed, my friend,” I tease.
“I can’t wait to watch him get all jealous,” Piper tells me.
I just shake my head at them. He’s not going to get jealous. I can only assume their earlier offer to set me up with someone is how they’re going to prove their theory. I’ve dated lots of guys, just none that I want more with. Sterling knows this and doesn’t care. He warns me about safety. He tells me not to let them pick me up at my place, definitely not on the first date, always carry my Mace, and if at any time I need him, I’m to call him. No questions asked. Never once has he shown an ounce of jealousy over a man in my life.
“Pick.”
I turn to look at Palmer, and she has a smug look on her face. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, this is good.” Ramsey grins.
“It’s our thing. You have to pick which Kincaid brother you would choose for your own.”
“That’s crazy.”
“We’ve all done it,” they remind me. “Well, except for Piper. She already had her eye on Heath.”
“I’m not choosing. That’s ridiculous.”
“You have to pick,” Ramsey tells me. “That’s the only way.”