Page 37 of Mischievous Lies

When I turn around to face her, she pulls me in for a hug. I’m surprised, but I wrap my arms around her. She’s the shortest outof us, and I’ve always looked at her more like a little sister and best friend combined in an awesome bundle. But Hope isn’t a very affectionate person; none of us really are.

This is just what I needed to remind me what good friends I have. Billie is currently on a business trip, but when she gets back, I plan on having one of our girls’ nights.

Hope and Hawke are very close, and Hawke has a problem with keeping secrets. Dread immediately runs through me.Does she already know?

“What has he said?” I ask carefully.

“He didn’t say anything, but I heard he went on a little rampage, beating a guy almost to death at some party you were at. I assumed he went to stir up shit. Sorry, you have to deal with my crazy cousin.”

I sigh in relief, although I feel bad that Hawke has taken the brunt of it without anyone knowing the real reason behind it. It’s nice to know he’s been able to keep my secret, though.

I consider telling her, but it sits at the edge of my lips, not quite ready to come out yet. I don’t know why I don’t want to talk about it; it’s not like anything actually happened, but I feel stupid. I can’t believe I put myself in that situation, and I don’t want to worry her.

“He’s not all that bad,” I say as I check out her recent work. Hope’s beyond talented, and I know the public image and pressure get to her.

“It’s his redeeming quality,” she jokes. “Did something happen with you two that night?”

Images of him looking after me come to mind, but I find myself saying, “He wishes.”

She brings me a cup of herbal tea. Not my usual go-to, but okay, seems like the day for it with the sun spilling in and serene music playing. “I’m just waiting for the day that it all clicks into place for you two.”

I laugh because Hope has always said things like that about us. I wonder if there’s something I’m not seeing that she does. “What makes you say that?”

She shrugs as she takes a sip of her tea. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to see you two flirting, but I think you’ll put him in his place. And we all know Hawke needs that.”

True.

“And what do I get out of it?” I ask.

She looks at me then, those beautiful blue eyes striking against her vibrant red hair. “Someone to keep you on your toes so you don’t get bored.”

“Maybe,” I say thoughtfully. No one would be surprised. My father might have a heart attack, though. But I’m not even sure if someone like Hawke is capable of a relationship. Besides, it’s a little presumptuous.

“But if you start getting bored, you can come out for dinner with me and my detective.” She waggles her brows.

“That sounds awful,” I whisper in mock horror because third wheeling is not my idea of fun.

“You know you want to,” she teases, and I can’t help but sit on the floor cross-legged beside her despite there being another stool. I just want to appreciate what I have and who I have. And it’s nice to see Hope living out a happily ever after… in her own little morbid way.

CHAPTER 23

Ivy

When I decided to have a Friday night to myself instead of going out, I thought it would be me sitting on my couch naked, eating a bunch of takeout during a movie marathon. The six-foot-two, tatted asshole standing at my door with a cheesy grin thinks otherwise.

“I thought I said no to you coming over tonight,” I say.

“When did we have that conversation?” He pushes past me and into my apartment. I shake my head as I close the door behind him.

“I’m not going out tonight. You’ll have to find someone else to party with.”

Hawke shrugs as he looks around the living room and kitchen. He’s always looking at the mess I leave around, but he hasn’t commented on it yet. Everyone else does, and I don’t care. “It’s only a party if you’re there, Ivy. So if you’re not out there, then I’ll come here. Come on, we can order in food and braid each other’s hair.Fuck.”

I smirk, leaning against the counter and giving him a full cleavage shot. His gaze dips to my tits, and it gives me deep satisfaction at how responsive he is to me. I’m wearing matching shorts and a tank PJ set with lemons on them. The only reasonI’m wearing anything is because the last time I ordered a pizza, the delivery guy almost tripped over himself when I answered the door naked. Then Billie got on my case, saying something about protecting the male species from unrealistic expectations.

“What if I don’t feel like having sex with you?” I ask.

He looks at me as if I’m crazy. “Come on, Ivy, everyone wants to have sex with me. Besides, it’sus.”

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