I was laughing too hard to respond.

She huffed. “Your best friend is a pervert and I feel like you’re not taking this seriously.”

“Well, I can’t really say I blame him. He has excellent taste,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, still chuckling. “So what store are you going to?”

“The lingerie department at Nordstrom.”

I looked up and arched an eyebrow. “I think I should be allowed, as a responsible dog owner, to replace these damaged items. I’ll need to approve everything, of course, for insurance purposes. Dressing room pictures would be best. In fact, we should probably Skype.”

“You know, I’ve already forgiven Tucker for everything he’ll ever do. You? Not so much.”

“What? How am I the bad guy in this? Here I am, just trying to make you whole…”

“Uh-huh.”

“I like red, by the way.”

She snorted. “What makes you think that you’re ever going to see my underwear?”

I grinned. “Unwavering, unrelenting persistence?”

“Speaking of persistence,” she mumbled.

“Sailor boy’s still there?” I asked, nodding back at a yoga pants–clad Jennifer Lawrence coming out of the floor-to-ceiling frosted doors of Pia’s office.

“Yeah, he’s smiling at me, standing by a giant bubble gum machine.”

“Tell him you have a boyfriend,” I said.

“Might work better if I tell him I have a girlfriend,” she whispered.

My mind flickered to Sloan kissing another woman. “That will definitely not work better.”

She laughed.

My suggestion made me realize that despite our two dates, Sloan didn’t have a boyfriend. I had no claim on her besides just being some guy she was talking to. She could give this man her number and I couldn’t say anything about it.

I didn’t like that. At all.

“Whoa, there’s more of them,” she said. “Oh my God, I wonder if they’re going to actually do it. They seem to be gathering. There’s like five of them now and they’re huddled. There must be a navy recruiting station around here.”

“Does this happen often?” I asked.

“What? Naval officers?”

“You getting hit on.”

“Actually, yeah, lately. It’s weird.”

I moved the phone away from my mouth. I didn’t like that either. And there was nothing weird about it. She was beautiful. Of course other men noticed it.

I changed the subject. “So, did Tucker destroy any other lingerie? I feel like he probably did and we’ll need to get some replacements.”

“Oh, ha ha.” Then she groaned.

“The naval crew still there?”

“Yup.”

“Can you go outside? Get away from them?”

“I can, but I’ll have to hang up with you. It’s really loud out there.”

“No, don’t hang up with me,” I said.

“They’re turning around. They just looked at me,” she whispered. “One of them just waved.”

I dragged my hand down my face. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“No,” she laughed. “Why? Are you getting jealous?”

“Of course.” I said it like a joke, but it wasn’t.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” she said.

“Why? Navy guy isn’t your type?”

“No, he’s kind of cute, actually. It’s just that I’m really into this other guy right now.”

“Oh?” My heart picked up.

“Yeah. He’s pretty amazing. Thoughtful. Took care of me when I was sick yesterday. Sexy northern accent. Doesn’t scare easily, something I need in a man.”

“Sick? Is that what we’re calling it?” I was beaming. I knew she could tell.

“Yup. Sick. We don’t need to elaborate. Oh no…”

“What?”

“They’re coming over here. Oh my God…”

…Singing.

Chapter 16

Sloan

? Girlfriend | Phoenix

When I opened the front door at 6:15, Jason stood there leaning on his arm against the door frame, still laughing.

I put my hands on my hips and glared playfully at him. “I’m glad one of us found that amusing. That was easily the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me.”

And so much recent content to choose from…

Jason had laughed so hard on the phone through the whole mortifying performance, you could hear him through my cell a foot away.

“I’m sorry, you’re right. Can I come in?” he wheezed.

He looked sooooo good. Even slightly annoyed at him for laughing at me, I had to bite my lip in appreciation. He wore a green flannel with the sleeves rolled up, and his china-blue eyes were gleaming.

They were gleaming at my expense, but still.

I put an arm across the door. “I was musically assaulted today by a roving a cappella group in naval dress whites, and you think it’s funny?”

He crashed into me, hugging me around the waist. I went limp in protest, dropping my arms to my side like noodles, and it made him laugh harder.