Page 163 of Failure to Match

“It was fucking incredible, Jams. Some of those islands were surreal—and thediving. Honestly, I’d take it up as a hobby if welived somewhere that allowed it. I’ll take you next year when I’m on break, I swear you’ll love it. I wasn’t expecting to become so obsessed with it, but thesharks, Jamie. It’s insane! Oh, and have you ever tried—” She cut off, blinking up at something behind me that made her brows pinch together and her grin falter.

I twisted on the floor to find Jackson hovering a few feet away, his posture somewhat stiff and awkward, as though he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.

He wasnervous. Adorable.

I gave him a small, comforting smile as he cleared his throat. “Hello, you must be Ria. I’m Jackson.” He held out his hand, but since we were sitting and he was standing, he had to sort of bend to do it. “Jackson Sinclair.”

Her eyes flared as they darted to me, then narrowed. She didn’t take his hand.

Uh oh.

“Ree, let’s go sit and chat for a few, yeah?” I suggested softly.

“What’s going on?” Her gaze slid between us, trying to piece it together.

Before I could respond, Adrien rounded the corner through a whole bunch of exotic plants I couldn’t begin to name, holding a very purry,verycuddly Toebeans Maguire. My slutty cat was rubbing his head all over his favorite human’s chin, eyes closed. He sounded like a fucking motorboat.

“Hey, Jams,” Adrien said, shooting me a dimpled grin. I barely heard him over the purring.

Jackson had gone still, his mouth hanging open as he watched the two of them. Poor guy. The amount of effort he’d put in just to be allowed within touching distance of Toebeans.

“Seriously, what is going on?” Ria asked again, whispering this time.

“I’ll tell you in a bit, just?—”

PPPPRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Oh my god. I couldn’t hear myself think.

After quickly introducing himself to Adrien, Jackson helped me to my feet. The gesture—the exchanged private smiles and too-close proximity of our bodies—did not go unnoticed by Ria. Her eyes flared with understanding, her jaw falling slack.

I helped her up before she could comment, slung my arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the living area. She continued to gap at me.

“In my defense regarding the conversation we’re about to have, just remember, you haven’t had proper reception in almost two months,” I whispered.

“You’resleepingwith Jackson Sinclair?” she hissed back.

“It’s not as inappropriate as it sounds,” I assured her. “He’s not my client anymore. I quit my job.”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t worry, I start my new one next week at RUMI. I’m pretty excited about it, actually. Great pay, great benefits… a boss that doesn’t believe I should be blacklisted from the entire industry for accidentally falling in love with a client…”

“What?!”

I couldn’t remember why I’d been so nervous. This was fun.

“Yeah, I know. He even went as far as to send us flowers to celebrate the engagement, and I haven’t even started there yet. Vivian would never.” I flashed her my ring. White gold, princess cut. Mabel and Molly had helped Jackson pick it out. “Pretty, no?”

“What?!”

“It’s not what it sounds like, I swear.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “We’re only getting married so we can date. Like that movie with Sandra Bullock and one of the Ryans.”

“Gooseling,” Jackson supplied from behind us.

“Yup. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gooseling. Except our situation’s actually realistic. Even Jackson’s aunt’s psychic agreed it was the best course of action. We’re all set.”

“WHAT?!”

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