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“Will she be there?”

“I don’t know. Probably.”

“Mhm.”

Is my little princess worried about Blake?

“You don’t have to be jealous. Although, I must say I like it because that means you care,” I say.

Her eyes snap to mine, her lips parting as if to protest, but she hesitates. The uncertainty in her eyes is enough confirmation for me.

I take a bite of my pad thai, chewing slowly as I contemplate my next words. “Blake and I are over.”

Her focus returns to the food. She’s still unsure. Time to turn on the charm.

“Princess.” I tilt her chin to meet my gaze. “Talk to me. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth, the telltale sign that she’s unsure what to do. “It’s stupid.”

“It’s bothering you, so it’s not stupid.” C’mon princess, you know you can tell me anything. I rub my thumb along her jaw soothingly.

“I saw a picture of you and… her,” Lil says.

“A picture?”

“From this morning. She was on your lap. Describing you as…” Her voice cracks. “Her boy.”

Fuck. I don’t like her being like this, especially since I did that, but god, she’s also adorable.

“I’m not hers.” I tilt her head up again. “You’ve got no reason to worry.”

“So you and her. Was there something before?”

“Yes, there was something. But it’s ancient history.”

Blake had been drunk and desperate, and I’d been stupid enough to give in. The next day, she’d plastered herself all over me, never stopping. It turned to casual hookups. We were good friends before that, but it was never more.

A flicker of relief passes through Lil’s eyes before she masks it with indifference. But it’s too late. I’ve seen it.

“They were at our house this morning. She came to me and took that photo. I did it so that she would leave me alone,” I say.

“But Mike—”

“What happened with Mike won’t happen with me. I promise.” I brush my thumb over her cheek. “You’re the only one who has my attention. Blake can’t change that, no matter how hard she tries.”

I mean every word. And I will prove it. It’s about damn time she realizes I only have eyes for her.

I snatch my phone. “You know what, I’ll tell Blake to take the picture down, and I won’t let it happen again.”

Lil’s hand stops me. “It’s fine.”

Nope. It’s not, but I’ll do it later. Now I concentrate on her.

Time for the final push.

I lean in close, lips grazing her ear. “Now that this misunderstanding is out of the way, are you gonna make me beg all night? Or will you be my date for the party?”

Her lips part on a quiet breath, and warmth pools low in my gut.

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