Page 93 of Puck and Prejudice

We turn a corner, and then she stops suddenly and pokes me in the chest. “You’re an idiot.”

“Hey! What’s with the violence?”

“Why did you have to say all those things to my parents? Now my mother will be plotting our wedding instead of Jane and Chad’s.”

“So?”

Her brows arch. “So? You’re unbelievable. It’s all fun and games to you, but I live with her. You have no idea what she’s like when she’s on a mission! She’ll be asking me nonstop why I’m not dating you, and listing all your attributes, and?—”

Invading her space, I frame her face between my hands and kiss her until I sense the tension leave her body. She curls her fingers into my shirt, pulling me closer. I wanted proof that Izzie isn’t indifferent to me, and now that I have it, I should let her go. I don’t want to get caught by her meddling mother either.

But she’s too addictive, and Idon’tlet her go.

“Holy cannoli!” Chad blurts out, and that does it.

I step away from Izzie and face my friend.

“When did this happen?” Chad’s gaze bounces between Izzie and me.

“Uh… after our win.”

His blue eyes turn as round as saucers. “You’ve been together since Friday, and you didn’t tell me?”

“I thought you knew! Besides, you’re giving me shit when you dated Jane for months in secret?”

His face turns beet red. “Well… I guess not.”

“Please don’t make a big deal out of it,” Izzie chimes in. “How is Jane? Can I say goodbye, or is she too tired?”

“She’s looking at baby names with Lydia.”

“Okay.”

The way Izzie walks away from us as if the devil is after her is almost comical, and it brings a smile to my lips.

Chad hits my arm playfully. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

“I thought Jane told you for sure.”

His brows furrow. “Maybe she did when I was too drunk to remember.”

“I wasn’t subtle, anyway. Grayson figured it out the next day.”

“You know I miss most social cues. Are you dating now, or just having fun?”

I sigh. “We haven’t talked about it yet.”

He tilts his head. “But do youwantto date her?”

I know the answer to that, but something prevents me from being truthful to Chad. “I don’t know.”

“You’d better figure out quickly. I can’t deal with more drama.”

* * *

IZZIE

I shouldn’t have stuck around to overhear Jackson and Chad’s conversation. But against my better judgement, I did, and now I regret it. Jackson’s answer to Chad’s question wasn’t hurtful, but it stung anyway.

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