Page 106 of David

Eve catches sight of us, and my cheeks burn.

“Please behave,” I say quietly to my friend. “I don’t want us to get in trouble.”

“We’re not getting in trouble,” she says, dusting off crumbs from her fingers. “I love these two people. I always have,” she says seriously. “It’s rare to see people fighting for each other the way they have.”

I sip tea and pick up a scone.

“You and your new acquaintance are almost like that,” I joke.

She laughs, amused.

“Sure. We’re fighting all the time. We got that down.”

“Hey, you can’t let go of each other. That’s the most important thing. Who cares how you accomplish that?”

“Interesting thought. Speaking of that.”

She reaches inside her pocket and glances at her phone.

“I think he and I are done,” she says. “No more messages from him.”

Sighing, she tucks her phone back in.

I can tell she wants me to believe she is relieved, but her downcast eyes and tense lips say something different.

My hand slides over hers.

“Don’t worry. Perhaps it’s better this way.”

“That’s what I was saying,” she grumps, pulling her hand from mine. “You don’t need to comfort me.”

I shake my head, smiling.

“You are so stubborn.”

“Look who’s talking,” she tosses back at me.

Voices ring inside the house, and our eyes fly to the entrance.

James steps into the doorway, no longer wearing his suit jacket. He summons Eve to him.

She excuses herself, and Chloe and I both hear her mention that he needs her for something work-related.

We both look at the stunning brunette wearing elegant trousers and a red top making a beeline for the house.

“I want her job,” Chloe mumbles.

I whip my eyes to her.

“You can’t help yourself, can you?”

She breathes a laugh.

James looks around the table again, and this time, Dahlia excuses herself and leaves.

I don’t hear a peep from my friend.

Thea shifts her focus to us.

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