Page 17 of Click of Fate

Luke just nods, like he gets it. He doesn’t push for more of an explanation. I can tell he isn’t judging me. Maybe he really does understand.

“Fair.” He takes another sip. “Gotta say, though. You don’t seem as detached as you think.”

My eyebrows rise unintentionally. “Oh?”

“You stayed the night,” he says.

And my reply to that sexy fucking smirk?

I just huff out a laugh—he has a point.

Chapter 5

I’M A PROFESSIONAL

LUKE

Siting at the island,Stella sips her coffee, studying me. It’s like she’s assessing if I’m still worth the conversation.

I notice the look in her eyes, and while I’m not really into one-night stands either, I’ve had a few and women linger, making morning-after excuses to stay. But Stella? It seems like she’s already half out the door.

Leaning back against my counter, I cross my arms.

"You know, for someone who doesn’t do relationships, you’re suspiciously good at morning-after small talk."

Her eyebrow lifts. “I’m a professional.”

“At small talk?” I snort. I was joking. She’s horrible at small talk.

“At leaving before things get complicated,” she says with no real trace of a smile.

I laugh, though, shaking my head. “You say that like I’m about to start carving our initials into a tree somewhere."

She lets out a breath, clearly amused now, but there’s something under the surface—a flicker of something I can’t put my finger on.

She gives me a playful eye roll before getting to her feet.

I watch Stella move around my apartment. Finding her shoes, she slips them on with ease. She picks up her purse, unzips it, and checks her phone. Unaware of me study of her, she bites her lip as she orders an Uber. Her phone dings, and she gives a little grin and an eye roll at whatever she reads on the screen. She doesn’t reply, but shoves her phone into her back pocket.

She slings her purse over her shoulder like this is just another Friday morning. I shouldn’t be surprised; she warned me, after all.

“So, no number?” I joke.

She lets out a breathy laugh, shaking her head.

“Nope.”

Tilting my head as she walks back to the island to take another sip of her coffee, I don’t press.

“Alright. Well, if you ever want to look me up…” I start.

“I won’t.” She grins. She means it as a joke, but I can tell she means it nonetheless.

I lazily gesture to myself and add, “You can find me at Squeaky Bum.”

She nods as she walks to the door. She lingers for a second. Just a second, then pulls the door open and tosses back, “See you around, Luke.”

I follow her to the door and give her my most swoonworthy grin—my confidence knows no bounds. “I have a feeling you will.”

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