Page 87 of David's Proposal

I like Pam better.

“Oh, Sabina. Yeah. I had no idea who you were talking about. She’s never been introduced to me. She seems like a nice woman,” I say, removing any negative emotion from my voice.

Eve gives me a smile.

“You don’t have to hide from me.”

My heart stops.

“What?”

“You like David.”

I look at her, livid.

She touches my arm.

“We all liked David at some point.”

“Dahlia didn’t. And Thea didn’t.”

She gestures dismissively.

“You know what I mean. He is stunning,” she argues.

“You liked him too?”

“He was on my short list when I was spectacularly failing at dating and looking at my other options. He was friendly towardme, but we never moved past that point. If you ask me, the man is not into relationships, period. But in this case, I think there’s also something else. After having that affair with Rain, he never wanted to hook up with someone in our circle again.”

Oh… Is that good news? Bad news?

He’s not doing that, yet he’s making an exception for me?

Or he’s keeping me a secret‘to protect me’when he, in fact, abides by that rule, and that’s the real reason?

“Was it because of Rain?”

Our eyes connect, and she searches mine before fully grasping the meaning of my question.

“Oh, you mean, um… He doesn’t do it because he has feelings for her?”

I nod.

“Yes.”

“No, no… They are good friends. Plus, that is an old story. They both moved on. You can tell.”

“Yes. Of course I can tell. Then, why?”

“One, because he’s not dating. And he probably thinks it’s the honorable thing to do not to get involved with someone in his circle. He doesn’t want to lead anyone on, especially someone close to his friends.”

My heart sinks.

“Isn’t he leading that woman on?” I ask, tense, although thinking mostly about myself.

Her focus goes to Pam.

“She’s in it for the money,” she comments. “And he gives her nothing to fall in love with.”

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