Page 158 of Mark

“Technically two. Your brother ate the third.”

Dad places the paper plates on the table. “Let’s just eat.”

“You swear you’re okay with me leaving?” Summer whispers as everyone gets up. “I didn’t want to upset you or make you think you’ve done something wrong.”

“You’re my best friend, so yes, of course. You’ve always been there for me, so I’ll be here for you now.”

“Love you.”

“Love you more.”

“But not as much as me, right?” I ask.

“Shut up, Mark,” Summer snaps, pulling Freya in for a hug.

“Right?” I ask again.

“Give it up,” Harriett, a friend of Charlotte’s, calls out. “You’ll never be loved more than a ride or die friendship. If you try to get in between them, you’ll be the one who is fucked.”

“That isn’t true, is it, Freya?” I ask.

“Go get the burgers before your uncle steals them all.”

I narrow my gaze. “We’ll finish this later,” I promise.

“He’s so cute,” Harriett declares when I walk off.

*** *** ***

Holding Freya’s hand, we step into the lift. “Are you really okay?”

I know Summer is more than a friend to her. She’s family. “I’m good. Looking back, I think I missed all the signs that she wanted to be with them. And for her to think of me whilst making the decision to leave proves she didn’t make it lightly. We’ll be okay.”

“Not to sound like a prick, but I’m more worried about you and how you’ll be feeling.”

She leans up on her toes to kiss me. “I love you for it, but I’ll be okay. I promise.”

“So, how do you feel about us moving in together?”

She grins. “I’ll get sex whenever I want, I won’t have to worry about you stealing anything, and my cat will no longer be held hostage.”

I narrow my gaze. “I stole one doormat. The cat keeps breaking and entering. That’s not a hostage situation.”

She laughs. “You’re so cute when you get a frowny face.”

“You really don’t mind us moving in together?”

“Why, do you have a problem with it?” she asks, stepping back.

I bring her closer. “No. We already live together. Summer was right. I just didn’t want to assume you would want my stuff moved into yours.”

“You’re going to move into mine?”

“Why do you seem so shocked?” I ask.

“Because you love your place.”

“Yours feel more like a home. Plus, despite your cat constantly getting out, he prefers your bed to mine.”

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