Page 103 of Darling Obsession

“You know, Megan did this whole fake-engagement thing with Jameson when they first met,” Nicole says. “I don’t think she’d mind if I told you that now. Just don’t repeat it.” Sheshoots us both a zone-of-trust look. “So what is it with these guys? Can’t they scare up any legit dates? They’re hot as fuck and rich, which is totally my type. And none of them askedme. I’m just sitting here, like, waiting on my billionaire to arrive.”

I giggle, but Dani’s too busy trying to figure out Harlan’s evil ulterior motives to be amused. “What do you think his issue is?” she says.

“Well, he’s a twin, right?” Nicole ventures. “And we know twins are fucking nuts.” She splashes Dani lightly with her foot. Because Dani’s a twin, too.

“But boy-girl twins can’t be identical, obviously,” Dani says, “so that means they’re just fraternal twins, which are really nothing more than a brother and a sister in the womb at the same time…”

“True,” Nicole says. “It’s the identical ones that are batshit.”

Dani, who is an identical twin, splashes her back. “He’s hiding something. For sure.”

“Maybe he’s secretly into men or some such thing, and he wants it kept secret?” Nicole suggests.

“Maybe he’s into some weird-ass fetishes he doesn’t want his family to know about,” Dani says.

Then they look at me for my take.

I’m blushing, but maybe we can blame that on the mimosas. My friends look pretty pink right now, too. “He definitely strikes me as a man with secrets,” I admit.

“We’re overthinking it,” Dani concludes. “Maybe he just can’t get it up.”

“Oh, he can,” I tell them.

At which point they find out that I’ve had sex with him—and freak out.

Loudly.

“Shh!” I hiss-laugh, realizing, when I can’t stop giggling, that I’m fairly drunk.

“I will flip your noodle,” Dani says, jerking my floatie threateningly, “if you withhold one detail.”

“It’s a popsicle,” I protest, snorting as I try to stop laughing. “Okay.Okay.Don’t flip me. All I’m going to say is that he has this very sexy way of focusing all his attention on me. And it’s… intoxicating.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he really puts thetoxicin intoxicating,” Dani mutters.

“Clever!” Nicole says.

“Come on, Nicole,” Dani presses. “I know you’ve gossiped with Megan about Jameson’s brothers. Tell us. There might be something you’ve heard that Quinn needs to know.”

“There isn’t any gossip about Harlan. Believe me, I’ve tried,” Nicole laments. “All Megan says is that apparently heneverdates. According to Jameson, he’s super antisocial. They call him ‘the beast.’”

Dani frowns. “Who does?”

Nicole shrugs. “Everyone. His siblings. His employees. That’s what Megan said that Jameson said. And it tracks, right? I mean look at this gloomy castle he lives in.”

“Hey. He has a pool, though. And these fun floaties,” I say defensively.

“These things?” Dani says. “That his butler pulled out for us? They had price tags on them, because no one’s ever used them.”

“The house isn’t gloomy,” I protest. It totally is. “It’s Gothic-esque. In a cool way. He wears all black. It’s a vibe.”

“Well, just remember this is not some fairytale,” Dani says. “If he’s doomed, you’re not gonna save him.”

“I’m not looking to save him. It’s not like that. He’s just… hard to resist. In a nice way.”I think.

“Even with all the red flags?” Dani presses.

“Red flags aresomy color,” Nicole says.

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