Page 114 of David

Chloe zips her hand down like she’s trying to hide her phone.

I can’t read anything on David’s face when I start talking.

“We can’t stay for dinner. We’re both tired, so we’re calling a cab,” I say, looking straight at James.

He searches my eyes, clearly not buying it.

“We went out last night,” I say, not blinking and stifling my impulse to move my eyes to David.

A soft smile creases James’ lips.

“Did you have fun?”

More relaxed, I flash a grin.

“Yes. We both did.”

Blood floods my cheeks, but I act cool like nothing happened.

“I can take them back,” David says before James has the chance to comment.

“Are you sure? My driver can take them home.”

“No need to. I’m going in that direction anyway.”

“Okay, man. We’ll talk,” James says before shaking hands with David, giving him a hug, and patting him on his back. “I’ll see you when you get back.”

“Sure.”

They break away from each other, and James turns to us.

“You’re in good hands,” he says to us, and we mumble our goodbyes like two schoolgirls.

The fuck.

James enters the house, and sadness floats through me at the thought that I have to leave.

I wish I could stay a little longer and have dinner with them.

Distracted, I walk with Chloe and David and stop next to his car. I realize late, only when David points to his ride, mostly for Chloe, that I made a gaffe.

I wasn’t supposed to know which one was his car.

Chloe doesn’t seem to notice.

“This is us,” David says.

His ride has four seats but only two doors, and Chloe wants to get in first, for obvious reasons, when David looks at me.

“Who am I dropping off first?”

“Uh…” Chloe mumbles. “That would be me.”

“Elizabeth, right?” he says to me, slightly amused.

“Yes. That’s right. I’ll take the back seat.”

I nudge Chloe to the side and slide in, rolling my eyes without anyone seeing me.

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