Page 46 of Too Good to Be True

“Then why do I need to get there early? And why can’t Jared put out the snacks?”

“Will you stop questioning everything? I just want to hang out with my best friend, that’s all.”

Stacy suspected there was more to it than that. Kelsey would probably like nothing better than to see Stacy and Nick get together and feel like she had a hand in it. Not only that, but Jared’s roommate and best friend, Hudson, would be there. Kelsey had been crushing on Hudson for quite some time, but Jared had declared him off-limits. Naturally, this only piqued Kelsey’s interest more, and she’d taken every opportunity to be near the man.

Stacy went into the building and pressed the intercom button for Jared and Hudson’s unit.

A few seconds later, her friend’s voice came over the speaker. “This better be Stacy.”

She laughed. “Yes. It’s me.”

“Come on in.”

There was a loud buzz as Kelsey released the security door, and then Stacy stepped inside. Kelsey stood in the hallway outside Jared’s unit, her hands on her hips. “It’s about time!”

Her expression belied her scolding, though. Her eyes were bright, and her smile wide. Stacy guessed that her glow was probably due to Hudson more than her arrival, but she didn’t mind.

“Nick isn’t here yet,” Kelsey said, motioning Stacy inside.

“He’ll be here soon.” Unless he’d changed his mind and gone out with Britney after all. Not that she should care.

Stacy followed Kelsey into the living room, where Jared, Hudson, and two other guys were seated. All four men stood up when she entered, and Kelsey made the introductions.

“Hey, Stacy,” Jared said.

“Nice to see you again,” said Hudson.

“You too.” The other two guys, Patrick and Neal, shook her hand.

“We’re going to put out some more snacks,” Kelsey said. She took Stacy’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

The apartment was small, just like Nick’s, but between the sound of the TV and the men’s voices, Kelsey must have thought it was safe to talk.

“Doesn’t he look gorgeous?” she said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

“He’s not bad for your brother,” Stacy teased.

Kelsey shot her a mock scowl. “You know who I mean.”

“Yes, and he’s very handsome.”

“He hugged and kissed me on the cheek when I first got here.”

Stacy feigned surprise, although she wasn’t at all. Hudson would have to be blind not to notice her pretty, vivacious friend.

“Then Jared growled at him, and he pulled away.”

“Do you really think he’d mind if you and Hudson dated?”

“Yes, but I can’t figure out why. Hudson seems like a great guy. You’d think Jared would want me to be with someone like him.”

Stacy shrugged. “Maybe he’d feel awkward knowing his sister was dating his best friend.”

“Who knows? But I’m going to get it out of him one way or another.”

Stacy laughed. “I’m sure you will.”

Kelsey brought out bags of potato chips and pretzels and bowls to put them in. There was already a tray of cheese and crackers on the table, and a cooler of drinks sat on the floor nearby.