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Lil laughs, a soft, melodic sound that warms my heart. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

Next time.

She frowns at my still-full plate. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I was enjoying the view.”

She flushes, ducking her head.

“So, what are you reading?”

“Hmm?”

I point to the book in front of her with my chopsticks.

“Oh, it’s for my business law class.” She closes it up.

“Fun.” No wonder she’s so tense if she’s reading about that. “You should take a break from that. Do something fun this weekend instead.”

“Like what?” She arches a brow. “Because my idea of fun is curling up in bed with a good book.”

“There’s more to life than studying.” I reach across the table to brush my fingers over her knuckles. “Come to my game on Saturday, and the party afterward is always a good time.”

“I don’t know.” She hides her hand in her lap. “After last time…”

“I’ll make sure you won’t punch anyone.”

She laughs. “That doesn’t make it any better.”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Just come to the game and watch me. We’ll get pizza afterward. No party.”

“I don’t—”

“One night off from the books won’t kill you, I promise.”

“You make a lot of promises.”

“Please?”

Again, with the lip biting, my cock twitches with interest, and it takes effort not to imagine those lips wrapped around it instead. She really needs to stop that.

“Did you invite Ju?” she asks.

The desire dissipates. Why are we talking about her now?

“I didn’t, but she’ll probably be there. Like always,” I say.

“Will Connor be there?”

“He lives there.” What is she playing at?

“What about Brandon?”

“Yes, why? You got a crush on him?” I swear to god, if Brandon made any move—

“No. I…” Her eyes dart around, and she pushes the food around. “What about Blake?”

“What about her?”

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