Page 62 of Quinlan

The kiss from Rome, for one. The argument with Rex at Maeve’s, for another.

That’s it. I was confused and heady and frustrated. I worked long hours. The melatonin knocked me out.

My panties were the last thing on my mind.

“You’re good.” I walk over to my dresser to hunt for a pair of underwear. “I’m listening. Shoot.”

“Remember we talked about hanging out?”

“Of course.”

We talked before Liam and Rome happened. A day after mystery man made me dizzy and scared.

“Listen, I know you’re busy, but…” Ray stops. Probably checking if I’m listening.

“A little less busy today.”

Less busy and panicking after the email from the head of HR in BLF Capital. I want to impress them. Iwillimpress them. But they won’t pressure me for fast results. I have some breathing room. I have to clear my head.

I can spare a night with Ray. Her, me, and a bottle of wine. We’d laugh, drink, talk about life. Most importantly, it’ll be just us.

No distracting, confusing men to mess with my sanity.

“Great, because guess who’s going out today? Us.” A car screeches next to her. A man curses. “Hey, Alden, it’s okay. Nothing’s happened. I wasn’t even close to the road.”

Alden, her boyfriend. She mentioned his name months ago. I guess it’s serious.

“Anyway.” Ray clears her throat.

“I thought we were drinking here? I could bring a bottle of red. Or white.”

“No staying in tonight. We’re going out, and that’s final.”

“Um, okay.” I pull on my panties, confused as hell. When I have my sweats on, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. “You and me, then? Sure.”

“Us and two others.”

My forehead scrunches as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. At my bed hair and the black circles under my eyes. “Who?”

“Alden, me…” She pauses. “And Hugh.”

“No.” This is beyond rude, this sharp reply.

I don’t care. I’d rather buy a whole case of wine bottles than go out on a double date.

First of all, I don’t have time to date.

Second, these three men I met. They won’t let me be. They take up so much space in my mind and heart. I can’t forget about them. Can’t choose between them.

Bringing another man to the mix?

“No, Ray. No, no, no.”

“No?”

“I don’t—” I stare at my reflection again and see something else. My cheeks are flushed. Lips swollen. I must’ve bit them in my sleep. God, that’s embarrassing. “I’m free for a girls’ night out, not a double date.”

“I would never assume you’d be up for a double date.” A beat of silence. “Unless you asked me to hook you up with someone?”

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