Page 111 of Aching for His Discretion

I rubbed the back of my neck a bit nervously. “Oh... okay,” I replied, and he nodded.

“Asked me if I was yourboyfriend,too.”

My heart beat a bit faster. “What did you say?” I asked, and he glanced at me briefly before returning his gaze to the road.

“I told him I wasn’t,” he said calmly. “I can tell he’s interested in you.”

I bit my lip as I played with the end of my cardigan sleeve. “We’re just friends.”

He hummed as he rubbed his chin in thought, thinking of his next words rather carefully—something I noticed he did rather often these days.

“Not that I am in any position to ask, but have you ever considered going out with him?”

Had I considered looking at Jacob as more than a friend? Only recently did I notice that his gestures were a bit personal, and he seemed to be overly nice to me in comparison to the girls.

“No,” I replied truthfully, and he looked over at me as we reached my complex.

“Any particular reason why?” he asked, and I sighed as I gazed forward absentmindedly, focusing on the snow that began to fall softly on the windshield. It was easier to look at it. It was easierlooking at anything other than him at that moment as I revealed the truth.

“None that doesn’t involve you,” I confessed only above a whisper.

He remained silent as he turned toward the windshield as well, joining me as we watched the snow fall. It created a serene ambiance inside the car as we both watched it in silence.

Chapter forty-seven

Teegan

Sitting in the breakroom, I ate my lunch and watched the boys together on FaceTime as they talked amongst themselves. Digging my fork into my broccoli, I took a bite and tilted my head, confused at the conversation as it was being done solely in Italian.

“Guys, I am enjoying our time spent together just as much as you are,” I began, and they paused as they looked over at me simultaneously. I gave them a tight-lipped grin as I pointed to my plate. “But you three are speaking in another language… First of all, it’s unfair because I can’t understand, and second, I want to finish watching my show while I have the time to enjoy my break.”

“No. You’re not hanging up,”was all Elliot said, and I whined.

“Why not!!” I said, annoyed.

Nico leaned back as he tilted his head.“Because we said so. Argue with that, and we’ll cancel your Netflix subscription.”

“You wouldn’t,” I gasped, and he shrugged.

“Try me.”

“But you guys are being annoying and ignoring me too,” I pouted, and Micah sighed.

“We’re sorry, Little Mama. We just wanted your company for a while before you went back to work,”he apologized, and I smiled softly, holding back an audible “aww” that wanted to surface because I knew they’d get embarrassed.

“Now that you have our attention… how has this last week been?” he asked, and I knew he was referring to Levi springing back into my life unannounced.

Pushing the food around on my plate, I bit my lip. “I dunno,” I whispered, and I sighed as I continued, “It just feels weird, I guess.”

“He’s been taking his therapy very seriously, you know,” Nico said, and I nodded.

“I know… he’s changed a lot,” I admitted, and Elliot tilted his head.

“You think so?”heasked, and I shrugged.

“I mean, from my perspective, he has… It’s almost like he’s a different person at times. More understanding, less reactive… I don’t know. If it were the old Levi, he would have to work harder to gain my trust again, but now,” I trailed off, and they listened intently.

“Now?” Micah asked, and I sighed.

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