Page 171 of Thorns of Malice

I shake my head, insisting, "Jaxon and I were always just fuck buddies. It was just because of our addiction and friendship that we did what we did. You know how friends with benefits are. We didn't have the connection the same way Dax and I do."

"It's still ridiculously hot sex," she says.

"Eh." I shrug.

Her eyes widen in shock and she says, "Are you being serious right now? How can you say that it's not?"

My face heats. "Because that's what I have with Dax. I've never had it with anyone else, even Jaxon."

"Hmm." She studies me.

Anxiety fills my chest. I question, "What?"

"Have you finally admitted you're still in love with him?"

I stay quiet.

"Have you told Dax? I know you love him, and I think you should tell him."

"I did tell him," I admit.

"You did?"

"Yes."

She grins and claps her hands. "Yay!"

A server comes over. "Hi, I'm Shelby. I'm going to be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"I'll have a mimosa," Lilly says.

"I'll have one too," I tell the server.

"Great. Two mimosas coming right up." Shelby leaves.

Lilly snaps her fingers. "Hey, did you see there's a Seducing Ivy restaurant in town? It opened last night."

My grin hurts my cheeks. I confess, "Yeah, Dax took me to it."

"He did?" she shrieks. "Oh my God. What was it like?"

"It's amazing. I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful. The decor is stunning, Lilly. You have to see it."

She groans. "I tried to see it. They won't let me in. They said there's an eight month waitlist."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm assuming Dax owns it. Or does Avery?" She wrinkles her nose.

My stomach flips. I shake my head. "No, Avery doesn't own it." I pause, and a weird feeling hits me.

Should I tell her?

"Now you're holding something back," Lilly accuses.

I don't know why I want to keep the restaurant ownership a secret from others, but I decide Lilly is safe. Maybe it's because I'm still coming to terms with what Dax disclosed last night. But I glance around just as she did a few minutes prior, and lean closer. "If I tell you something, will you not tell anyone?"

"Your secret's safe with me," she declares, then pretends to lock her mouth and toss the key away.

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