Page 37 of A Deal with the Bossy Devil

I stuffed my face back into the cushion.

“That bad, huh?” Jamie said softly as she began running a hand through my hair.

I groaned into the couch, and as if he could feel my anguish, Toebeans started to knead my lower back.

He was such a sweet boy sometimes. Ten more minutes of the kneading and maybe I’d find it in me to forgive his slutiness.

“Your future husband is an evil sadist,” I informed her. “Every time he smiles, a pair of sleeping otters get separated. Have you seen the videos? They hold hands when they sleep. It’s super cute. And heseparatesthem every time he smiles, Jamie.”

She hummed. “That’s too bad. Adrien’s got a really nice smile.”

“Does not,” I grumbled back. And on a completely unrelated note, “You know he claims my left nostril flares when I lie?”

She cocked her head as she started to study my nose. “It does?”

“You tell me. You’re the one who’s been looking at my face every day for ten years.”

“I’ve never picked up on it,” she admitted. “Then again, you never lie to me.”

“What are you talking about? I lie to you all the time.”

She pinched my arm.

“Ow!”

Toebeans stopped his kneading and decided to lie down on my head instead. Probably to shut me up.

But Jamie moved him to her lap before he could put me out of my misery via suffocation. I really couldn’t catch a fucking break today.

“Anyways,” I went on, “either he’s incredibly observant and that actually is something I do, or he’s bullshitting to try and throw me off and get into my head.”

Not that it was working if that’s what he was doing.

I was fine.

“Why don’t you tell me a lie, then, and I’ll let you know if your nostril flares.”

I clicked my tongue. “It might not work if I’m actively aware of it.”

She scooched closer. “Just try. I’ll ask you a question, and you give me an untruthful answer.”

It was worth a shot. I rolled to my side to give her more room. “Okay.”

“All right, let’s see… ummm.” She looked down at her lap, thinking. And then she grinned, mischievous gaze cutting to mine. “Adrien Cloutier is a total babe, yes or no?”

“That’s dumb. Pick another one.”

“Nope, sorry. Adrien is a sexy hunk of a man. Yes or no.”

“Literally nobody uses the word ‘hunk’ anymore.”

“Yes or no,” she pushed.

I rolled my eyes so hard I felt them hit the back of my head. “No,” I said firmly.

Jamie let out a scandalized gasp. “Liar!” she accused, pointing at my nose. “It flared!”

What?“No, it didn’t.” I’d specifically paid extra attention to the sensations, and I definitely hadn’t felt anything.

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