Page 80 of Just Like That

My fingers itched to feel the smooth skin of her cheekbones. “Be my friend, Hazel Adams.”

Her long lashes swooped. “Don’t you have enough friends?”

My cock instantly twitched at how her voice went husky and low. I stepped forward, pressing my chest against hers. “A guy could use one more.”

She shouldn’t have licked her lips. I immediately had veryunfriendlythoughts but reeled them in. Hazel stepped back and shoved a hand between us. I clocked how the cool night air pressed against the fabric of her dress, revealing the outline of her nipple piercings.

In a strictly platonic, friendly observational kind of way.

I groaned internally.

Who the fuck was I kidding?

“Friends.” She held out her hand and waited.

I slipped my hand into hers, my thumb moving across her skin as I memorized its softness.

“Something like that.” I finally let a grin overtake me.

When Hazel stepped back, I observed her outfit and I huffed a laugh. My hand moved over my mouth to wipe away the smile.

“What?” she asked, the tiny lines furrowing between her brows.

She was dressed in a gold lamé dress that looked like it was made in the seventies but cupped every curve like it was made specifically forher. On top was a clashing oversize knit cardigan with a sewing theme—crocheted thread and yarn balls, even a sewing machine knitted on one side.

“Oh.” I scrambled to find the right words. “Uh, you look ...”

Hazel laughed, realizing why I was at a loss for words. “Amazing?” She twirled once, and the short gold skirt floated dangerously high on her thighs. “This is for my thrift store date. I was just trying it on. Do you like it?”

I didn’t bother answering her question. Instead, I frowned at her. “Date?”

Her lips pressed together. “Yeah. The girls asked me to go on a double date with them this weekend, but it’s a thrift store date.”

I crossed my arms. “Am I supposed to know what that means?”

Her shoulders bounced. “I don’t know. I thought maybe it was a thing around here. Sylvie said she saw it online somewhere—you go on a date, but beforehand you pick out each other’s clothes from the thrift store. The rule is you can only spend twenty dollars and youhaveto wear whatever someone purchases for you.”

My expression flattened. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Hazel twirled again. “I thought it sounded fun. Veda and Royal are going, too, so they invited me along.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. There was no reason I should get wound up when Hazel was going to be the fifth wheel on some ridiculous date with Duke and Royal in tow.

“I can watch Teddy if you need me to,” I offered.

See? Friendly. I’m nailing this shit.

“No need,” she said. “Sloane is having him for a sleepover with Ben and Tillie. We’re all meeting at Abel’s Brewery. MJ bailed—something came up at work. I guess there’s a new elderly resident, but his grandson is a real jerk, apparently.” She shrugged. “I guess they found some dude to take pity on me so I wasn’t just some sad fifth wheel.”

Some dude?

No way in fuck was she having a sleepover date withsome dude.

I lurked behind her like a goddamn stalker as she walked toward the house.

I cooled my tone, attempting to hide the fact I was having a complete internal meltdown over it. “What’s his name? Maybe I know him.”

She glanced at me but kept her attention forward. “Charles something. He’s a big wine guy, I guess.”

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