Page 54 of Until I Have You

Bollocks.Double bollocks.

She throws her gaze my way and…is that a smirk on her lips?A narrowing of her green eyes?Is she doing this on purpose?

Miranda’s breath lands against my jaw.“How does that sound?”

“Huh?”I turn my face quickly and nearly give her a black eye with my nose.“Shit, sorry, I’m–ha!I didn’t know you were so close.”

“No, you didn’t, did you?”she mutters.

I glance back at Abigail briefly before zeroing my attention in on Miranda.“Big talk.Like philosophy and politics and religion, yes?Like that?”

“Like that, sure,” Miranda says, allowing my closeness again.

My heart is beating like a hammer, knowing Abigail is so close.She knew I’d be here tonight.

And she walks in looking like that?

Nonsense.She’s just out with a friend.Dressing the way she’d like.Not to get my attention.

But maybe to get someone’s attention.

Jealousy flares inside me.

“We could talk about lots of things,” Miranda says.“If you could hold a conversation.”

I pull at the collar of my shirt.“Sorry, sorry, I’m… Are you hot?Is it hot in here?”

She smiles devilishly.“Am I making you nervous?”

Before I can answer, Bridget’s voice interjects.“May we sit with you?There aren’t any other free places…”

I look up at the dark-haired woman and smile.“Bridget, what a pleasant surprise and…” I can’t even bring myself to take Abigail in this close.“Abigail.Yes, of course, please–”

I gesture toward the sofa opposite ours.“By all means.”

Abigail and Bridget sit side by side on the sofa opposite us.

“Um, Miranda, this is–”

“I know Abigail and Bridget,” Miranda says with a smile.“Hi, girls.”

Bridget smiles.“Girls?You’re, what, ten years older than me?”

“A decade some may say,” I say under my breath.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to infantilize you,” Miranda says, shifting away from me and smoothing out her skirt.

Abigail does not do the polite thing, not at all.“Been a while since we’ve seen you down here.”

Miranda deflates slightly.“Yes, well, I–”

“Things didn’t work out with Rodney?”

Miranda gawps, glances at me, then back at Abigail before laughing.“No, they didn’t.But that’s how it goes.Can’t roll over and die.”

“No, of course not.”

“Your father set us up,” I say to Abigail.

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