Page 74 of The Heiress's First Date

I do.

We settle on the couch that costs more than the sail on my boat and spread the cartons across her coffee table.

“Water?” she asks, popping up.

“Please.”

I slide my hands down my thighs, ignoring the desire to pull out my phone and text Gabe again. The ball’s in his court. He needs to shoot his shot.

Ava asks one of her little robot assistants to play jazz, then returns with a tall glass of water and a wine for herself.

“So what’s going on?”

“Nothing much.” Yeah, that’s a lie. And the quick quirk of her brows says she knows it too.

This is the problem—and the blessing—of growing up close to your siblings. They know all your tells. And they happily call you on them.

After my call with Katherine, I was climbing the walls, and Ava took me up on my offer to bring dinner, so I guess I should have been prepared for the inquisition.

“Nothing much? I saw the pictures of you and Katherine on the roof. I’m not buying it.” She unfolds the flaps on the rice and fills the bottom of her bowl.

Yeah, that’s hard to deny. Half of Manhattan probably saw us looking cozy on Mama and Father’s roof.

My interest in Katherine isn’t a secret. It’s just a little surreal to be talking so openly about... my feelings. I’ve pushed them down and straight-up ignored them for years.

And my sisters know that.

So there’s an extra sharp glint of delight in her eyes when she asks, “Where’s Katherine?”

I grab the carton of chow mein and shove some into my mouth. Chew. Ignore the heat. She’s still waiting for an answer, almost preening with pleasure. Like a tiny shark that smells blood.

“In Paris with Alex.” Yeah, I sound like a jealous boyfriend. I totally hear it.

“Oh.” She finishes filling her bowl with her favorites. There’s going to be so much left over, which she loves. She splits open the paper wrapper and pulls out chopsticks.

“Yeah.” It’s not like I don’t want Katherine to go and enjoy herself. I wholeheartedly do.

But I feel incredibly out of my depth. More so than I have in years.

And as I look around the room at all Ava’s colorful artwork, my mind darts back to those three dots from Gabe. There and then gone.

What was he going to say?

Did I come on too strong? Fuck, friendship comes naturally to me, so why am I so weird with him? We have plenty in common.

We like sports. Katherine. New experiences.

“What’s really bothering you, King? You knew she was going on a date with these other two guys.”

“Not when I came back. But—” Yeah, once I got the lay of the land, I was... fine... with it. But maybe I’m not as fine with it as I thought? I don’t know.

“Are you worried she’ll fall for them?”

“Oh, she already has.” I know her like no one else. I can hear it in her voice. She’s head-first for Alex. More reserved about Gabe.

Ava’s brows vault up to her forehead. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so out of sorts. “Say that again.”

“It’s complicated.”

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