Page 94 of Play to Win

“Yeah.”I purse my lips.“Our furniture is there.And what if Chris needed a place to go?”

“Well, he could pay the rent himself.Like a goddamn adult.”

I bit my lip.“Yeah, I guess.”

“You haven’t heard from him?”

“I did text him the other day just to ask how he’s doing, and he said he’s fine, but that was it.I guess he’s still angry at me.”

“He’ll get over it.”

“Will he?”I eye him.“Areyougoing to get over what your brother did?”

He frowns.“That’s different.”

“Not so much.You said you miss him.You were best friends.Maybe you should make an effort.Especially since he and Emma are done.”

He’d told me about the text messages he’d exchanged with her and the news that she and JP had broken up.

His frown darkens.“No.”

I shrug.I’m not going to push it.Right now, anyway.“So, let me take you out for dinner to celebrate!”

“I’ll takeyouout.”He pulls me closer and kisses my forehead.“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”I smile up at him and then he kisses my mouth, a slow, lush kiss that melts me inside.Like all his kisses do.

I was so excited to share my news with him, eagerly waiting for him to get home, anticipating his happiness for me, and I love the feel of his arms around me, his mouth on mine ...the support I feel from him making my small accomplishment seem so much bigger.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this ...this caring.This feeling of not being on my own.I wasfineon my own.But this is ...lovely.

I kiss him deeper, showing him my gratitude for him just being there.It’s not about the rent.It’s about cheering each other on.Believing in each other.Backing each other up.

Oh hell.My feelings for Théo are starting to get ...complicated.

I pull back and give him a shaky smile.

“Where would you like to go for dinner?”He smooths my hair off my face with a tender gesture that dissolves my bones.

“I don’t know.Maybe that place we went for breakfast?”

“Phht.We can go somewhere nicer than that.”

“It doesn’t matter where we go.It’s nice just to go out ...with you.”

Gah.I probably shouldn’t have said that.

But he just smiles.“Yeah.How about seafood?I’ve heard there’s a nice place on the marina.”

“Sure.I love seafood.”

We move apart and he pulls out his phone, swiping and tapping.“There.Seven o’clock.”

“Ack!It’s quarter after six!I better get ready.”

“You look fine.”

“I can’t go wearing shorts!I’ll change.”

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