Page 60 of Forsaken Oath

“Oh God, not you,” Margot groans, rearing back a little.

Hawke is the most unbothered person I’ve ever met in my life. People think I’m easy-going, but Hawke makes me look like a type A.

He grins at her, rocking back on his heels. “Race girl.”

“Race Girl?” she echoes, one brow arching high. “Is that really the best you’ve got?”

“Wait, how do you two know each other?” Eloise asks, gesturing between them with her iced coffee.

“We don’t,” Margot says dismissively, her tone clipped.

“It was love at first sight,” Hawke answers at the same time.

There’s a beat of silence. Me staring at Eloise, grinning like a goddamn fool. Eloise staring at Margot, brows furrowed. Margot glaring at Hawke, lips twisting into a scowl. And Hawke grinningat everyone, whistling under his breath like he just opened a fucking present.

Margot looks away first, muttering, “It’s unimportant.”

Hawke shrugs. “I think it’s very important.”

Margot frowns at him before turning back to Eloise. “What’s important is howyouknow my sister.” She points an accusatory finger at me.

“What race?” Eloise asks, her attention locked on Margot.

I don’t love the way she’s brushing me off, like I’m some secondary character in this little scene. It makes me restless, an itch under my skin that I don’t quite know how to scratch.

“The pre-qualifier at The Alley,” Margot says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“I don’t remember that.” Eloise’s brows pinch together as she bites her bottom lip. “Where was I?”

The dots connect, and a laugh rumbles out of me as I glance between them. “So . . . your sister, huh?”

That does it. Eloise’s gaze snaps back to mine, sharp as a knife.

“There she is.” I take two steps closer, my fingers finding the ends of her hair. The strands are soft, silky between my fingertips. “Is this for me?”

Her eyes blaze, but she doesn’t move away. “It’s for me,” she bites out.

“Good.”

Her brows twitch, pulling together like she doesn’t know what to do with me. She takes a slow sip of her coffee, her throat bobbing as she swallows.

Margot clears her throat loudly, breaking the tension. “Alright, Romeo. This is cute and all, but maybe back off before my sister decks you.”

Eloise rolls her eyes, and I have to fight the urge to kiss her sass right out of her.

Hawke chuckles, rocking back on his heels. “Feisty. I like her.”

Margot whirls on him, pointing a finger. “Not a chance, dude. Stay in your lane.”

I shake my head, a grin tugging at my lips as Eloise mutters something under her breath. It’s chaos, and I can’t get enough of it.

“Peach,” I murmur, leaning in close. “You’re gonna have to stop pretending you don’t like me. It’s not very convincing.”

Her lips twitch, the barest hint of a smirk, and she tilts her head, studying me with those piercing eyes before she pushes past me, dragging Margot along with her.

Hawke claps a hand on my shoulder, his laughter echoing in the small shop. “You’re in deep, man.”

I glance at the door as it swings shut behind her, my chest tight with something I can’t quite name. Yeah, I’m in deep. But for Eloise Hawthorne? I’d go deeper.

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