Page 76 of Splintered Hearts

When I walk out into the living room Jamie’s sitting on his plush chair and his head lifts from the sketchbook he’s drawing in. “Oh, uh, I finished that book. You were right. Loved it.”

“Yeah, good, right? I don’t recommend shit. Remember that.”

Jamie smiles. “Can I borrow the next one?” Grabbing my book from the counter, I inspect it. No bumps or bruises. No dog-eared pages. Good boy.

“Here, you left—” I grab his bookmark out of the book but stop. “Did you draw this?” Touching his tongue to the corner of his mouth he nods, his ears going red. It’s a little drawing of me on my reading poof.

“Here, I made you a couple too.”

“What?”

“Here.” Opening his sketchbook, he hands me a couple of thick strips of paper.

Three handmade bookmarks.

The first one says my name in pretty designs and fonts. The second is simply rainbow-colored geometric designs, which I love. The third, though, makes me pause. A fox covers the entire strip, and the words “little fox” are scrawled around the animal. “Wow.”

“They’re kind of basic, but I—”

“I love them. I’m going to use one tomorrow. Just don’t know which one.”

“Do you have a favorite?” I eye, the fox and look up. Jamie gives me a soft, knowing smile.

“Thank you,” I say.

“So, where are you going?”

The date. Right. “Not sure yet.”

“Are you staying the night with him?”

How dare he?“Just a dinner, Jamie.”

“Not interviewing for apartments, then?”

My eyes narrow, but soften when I see Jamie’s teasing smirk. Okay then. Playful asshole I can handle. Maybe Jamie’s high. “No interviews tonight. I’m interviewed out.”

“Probably still thinking about the first interview anyway.”

Definitely high. I’ll take it. “What interview?”

Jamie’s eyes narrow. “You said it was the best interview.”

I shrug. “Can’t be too great if I can’t remember what interview you’re talking about.”

“Asshole.” Jamie chuckles. A knock makes us both jump. Jamie goes to get up. I shove him back down.

“My date. Get your own.” Shutting my eyes, I take a breath. I can do this. I can do this.

“Noah—” When I glance up, Jamie’s eyes have that soft, faraway look. “You look amazing. I hope you have a great night, okay?”

Ah, shit.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door. Right. Peeling my eyes away from him, I open it. Ben stands in the doorway, looking handsome in a navy blue dress shirt and black pants. My eyes travel up and down his body. He’s built, a couple of inches taller than I am. Ben looks like one of those guys in the gym filming their sets for Tiktok. “Wow, I feel underdressed,” he says.

Heat creeps up my neck. “You look great.”

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