Page 48 of Crush

I shrugged, “I was just fucking with her and she got upset.”

“Yep. That happens regularly with Amber.”

I turned to them both, giving the bane of my life my back, not that she was even remotely looking in our direction.

Luca had moved to stand behind Mia. They looked so cosy as he placed his chin on her shoulder and stared at me with puppy eyes. They’d known each other for minutes and already looked like a couple. But that was Luca, women fell into his lap. He didn’tneedto romance them, charm naturally radiated from him. That’s why he worked so well in front of the camera.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. “The woman is driving me mad. She can dish it out but she can’t take it,” I explained before shooting Mia a look of despair.

Her lips pulled into a smile as she leaned back against Luca’s body. “You’re right. She can’t.Especiallywhere you’re concerned.”

My brow threaded, my eyes darting between hers and Luca’s.

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged and placed her hands over Luca’s which rested around her waist. Mia didn’t answer my question. Instead, she looked up and down my body; inspectingme.

“I must say you’ve surprised me. You’re not like I thought you’d be at all.”

Shooting her a lopsided smile I said, “And how was that, with horns and a tail?”

Mia shook her head, “I don’t mean in appearance. Amber said she thinks you hate her and that the only spark between you is one of annoyance.”

“I’d say that about sums the situation up perfectly if the last five minutes is anything to go by,” I stated.

Luca released Mia and stepped to her side, fake coughing, “Bullshit.” Into his hand.

I hated that they appeared to be teaming up on me.

“I saw your face when she walked through the doors. You’re obsessed mate,” Mia announced with a giggle. It pissed me off that both she and Luca gave each other a secret look. Where the fuck was my wingman now? Traitor.

I gave him a devil’s stare to which he replied, “What? She’s right.Somethingis going on.”

“Andyou’veboth had too much to drink. Obsessionis a bit strong,” I batted back, clearing my throat.

I was now desperate to see if Amber was still talking to those pricks, which was rich having just brushed off their obsession comment. Oh, the irony.

Mia opened her mouth and then closed it. Like she was undecided on whether to say her next words. I’m glad she did, “She feels the same way you know.”

I sucked in a breath. “She does?”

“Yes. It’s like playground behaviour. Youbothact like pieces of shit to each other because there’s an attraction; one you don’t like. But…”

“But?”

“But I don’t think it’sjustan attraction thing. There’s more to it than that. That’s why you feel bad for being a shit to her,” Mia psychoanalysed bluntly.

Feeling a flair of guilt for behaving like such a dick, I glanced behind me but Amber wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Pushing my hands into the pockets of my dress pants, I rocked on my heels. “The woman cannotstandme. It’s been that way since day one.”

“You're wrong. You’ve got under her skin and that isn’t easy,” Mia said before turning to my friend. “Luca, why don’t you top up the drinks?”

He immediately jumped to it like her trained puppy. “Yeah. I’ll go to the bar whilst you ladies continue your girl talk,” Luca said with a wink. I wanted to punch him in his perfect face.

“You’re a sweetheart. I’ll have a Cosmopolitan and then I’ll give you that tour,” Mia replied with a saucy wink. Sweetheartwas a bit much.

“You good?” Luca asked me.

“Yeah, I’ll grab another in a bit. I should probably find the guest of honour and wish him many happy returns and all that bullshit.”

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