“Think he’ll be upset, since Alec is the competition and all?”

I shake my head. “Cohen isn’t like that. He doesn’t really see this as a competition—more of a way to create a wedding for him and Declan. He won’t have a problem with it.” At least I don’t think he will. “If anything, he’ll be concerned at first, since he knows I’ve been barking at Alec.”

“Naturally.” Farrah sighs again and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you kissed him.”

I slouch back on the couch with her. “I can’t believe it either.”

Farrah reaches for my hand and squeezes it while rolling her head to the side to look at me. “How was it?”

Staring up at the ceiling, I can’t contain my smile. “The most magical and spectacular kiss I’ve ever experienced.”

“Toe curling?”

“Nipple hardening.”

“Oh . . . damn.”

I nod. “Oh damn is right.”

“They’re not poisoned, Helen,” I hear Alec say as I make my way on set.

“How do I know that?”

“Because they’re still sealed. See?” Alec lifts a can of macadamia nuts up to her and takes the lid off, revealing that they are in fact sealed.

Helen looks at the seal and then back up at him. “I don’t like you, and I don’t like you trying to give me your nuts. It’s disgusting.” She whacks the nuts out of his hand and walks away.

“Christ,” I hear him mutter as I step into view. He bends down and picks up the can, and when he stands back up and spots me, a soft smile crosses his lips.

“Offering another lady your nuts already?” I whisper, shaking my head. “Should have known you were a player.”

“Jealous?”

“Of Helen?” I glance over his shoulder. “Totally.” I hold my phone up. “Expecting a text. See you around, Baxter.”

The corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk, and before I can feel too tempted to kiss that corner, I walk over to my workspace, where Declan and Cohen are already getting ready for the day.

“I thought they were splitting these time slots up so we wouldn’t all be here at the same time,” Declan says. “Helen is driving me insane with her constant tongue-clicking.”

Cohen leans in. “She is such a pill. Yesterday she asked me who the girl in our relationship was.”

I’m in the middle of taking my bag off when my head snaps up. “She did not.”

Noticing the instant anger that sprouts up out of me, Cohen places his hand on my shoulder. “Cool it, Luna.”

“What did you say to her?”

“That I would check inside our underpants later and get back to her.”

My mouth falls open. “No, you didn’t.”

“He did.” Declan nods. “And he checked last night—looks like we’re both the guy. Wonder how that’s going to work?”

I clamp my hands over my ears. “Please don’t tell me about your bedroom antics. You know I don’t want to know about my brother and his willy.”

Declan laughs and leans into Cohen, who briefly kisses the top of his head before pulling away. A surge of pride shoots through me at that little public display of affection from my brother. It was small, and I’m sure Declan would have hoped for a longer embrace, but it was more than I’ve seen from Cohen in a long time. Maybe this competition has opened up my brother, given him more courage to truly be who he is. I hope so. Baby steps, but moving forward is all that matters.

I feel my phone buzz in my back pocket but leave it there. “Please tell me Helen turned white at your response.”

Cohen chuckles to himself and grips the counter. “No, she said she would appreciate it if I followed up.”

“Stop it.” I laugh harder than expected. “And did you?”

He nods. “Went up to Helen this morning and told her that it was difficult research, especially having to stick one hand in my pants and another in Declan’s at the same time, but it looks like we both have dicks.”

“Oh Jesus.” I clutch my cheeks. “Did she pass out?”

“She gave me a sneer and was about to let me have it, but I stopped her and asked if she’d ever asked her daughter who the man was in her relationship.”

“Ohhh, good one.”

“To which she replied: ‘It’s Luciana—she’s the one who wears the strap-on.’”

Together, Declan and I throw our heads back and laugh. Cohen joins us, and it takes a few moments before we gain our composure, but when we do, I say, “How did you keep a straight face?”

“I didn’t,” Cohen says. He seems more loose and casual than ever, like he’s actually comfortable in his skin. “I snorted and was about to tell her, ‘If that’s the case, looks like Declan and I are both the man and the woman in our relationship,’ but she stomped away before I could reply.”

“Oh shit.” I hold my stomach. “Why wasn’t that recorded for the show?”

“Imagine the ratings.” Declan chuckles. “Talk about spicing up The Wedding Game. Not just about nuptials, but sexual education as well.” In a deep announcer voice, Declan says, “This week on The Wedding Game, we dive into sponges, buttercreams, and how the gays decide who is the male and who is the female in the relationship. Stay tuned as we discuss the complexity of strap-ons, hands in pants, and, of course, cake toppers.”

“Helen would have an opinion about the strap-ons for sure,” I say as my phone buzzes again.

“Helen has an opinion about everything,” Cohen says as he stretches side to side. “I’m going to grab some fruit and coffee. Want anything?”

“I’ll go with you,” Declan says. “Daddy needs some tea.”

“Can you not call yourself that, please?” I shiver. “Seriously, Declan.”

“What?” He smirks. “Don’t like knowing your brother calls me Daddy in the bed—”

Cohen pushes Declan to the side and looks me in the eyes. “I don’t call him Daddy.”

Feeling ill from thinking of my brother in this way, I say, “Thanks for clarifying that.”

He winks and takes off as I call out, “Some of that sparkling Zest Tea for me, please.”

When they’re out of sight, I dig into my pocket and pull out my phone. Sure enough, there are two texts from Alec.

My entire body heats up with a giddy, schoolgirl excitement.

I open his messages and force my face to remain neutral.

Alec: Nice tits.

Alec: Great ass.

I snort so hard my nostrils sting.

That’s his text message?

That’s him waxing poetic?

That’s his attempt to get me to go out with him tonight?

I look up and spot him, standing in the corner, leaning against one of the many set designs, arms folded and a smirk on his face as he stares back at me.

He thinks he’s so smooth . . .

Luna: I was promised texts about how pretty you think I am.

He texts right back.

Alec: Nice tits and great ass are supreme compliments. The kind of compliments I don’t hand out lightly. Now, pretty. I could say that to Naomi . . . or even Helen despite the weird way her hair is today. But I would never tell Naomi nice tits and great ass and I sure as fuck would never say that to Helen.

Luna: Oddly your logic works, but I was expecting more.

Alec: Are you high maintenance? Just tell me right now so I can prepare myself.

Luna: Slightly. I like romance . . . so if you want that date, romance me.

Alec: I knew nice tits and great ass weren’t going to fly with you but I tried anyway.

Luna: Worth a shot. But try again.

Alec: ahem Luna, darling . . . when you walked onto the set today, my breath caught in my throat, because all I could think about was how you made it all the way in here without anyone telling you your fly is undone.

I gasp and fumble for the fly of my jeans, and . . . it’s zipped.

My phone buzzes.

Alec: Made you look.

Oh my God, I hate him. My eyes shoot up to where he’s standing, laughing by himself.

And even though I want to throat-punch him, I can’t help but chuckle as well.

Luna: Enjoy dinner by yourself tonight.

Alec: Ahh, come on, that was funny. The panic on your face was priceless.

Luna: You really think you’re going to win me over by teasing me?

Alec: Not one of those girls?

Luna: No.

Alec: I beg to differ, given our initial interactions, but fine. Okay, here we go . . . Luna, I thought about our kiss all last night. I wanted to beg you to come back, to give me one more taste of your lips, but I knew if you did come back, you wouldn’t be going home.

The tips of my ears flame as I try to shrink into my seat, as if that will keep people from noticing me.

Luna: Lies or truth?

Alec: All joking aside, that was the honest truth. I woke up this morning with the taste of your lips on my tongue. I couldn’t get here quickly enough, just so I could catch sight of you, and maybe even pull you to the side, despite what we decided on last night.

Okay, maybe he’s a little good at this.

Luna: And why didn’t you? You had your chance.

Alec: Respect, Luna. Wanted to show you I keep my word.

I bite my bottom lip, thinking of all the guys who’ve let me down in the past. Nothing that’s truly devastated me and kept me away from the dating scene, but little letdowns here and there that have stuck with me enough to know that when I date again, I want a guy I can trust. Someone I can rely on.