Page 120 of Crossing Lines

“Uh-huh and now you’re making me think you're pregnant,” I joke.

She flips me off and we spend the next hour catching up on everything that’s been happening in our lives. Once she leaves, I hurry into my room and start sewing the most perfect dress I can for my best friend.

Hours later, Evren finds me at my sewing machine.

“What’s all this?” he asks, glancing at all the fabric pieces I’ve cut.

“I’m a horrible friend and forgot to make Elodie’s post-elopement-party dress.”

“And you’re working on it now?”

“I have to. The party is soon.” It’ll be tight, but I’ll make sure it’ll work out.

“Why didn’t you just tell her you don’t have time?” Evren massages my shoulders and I sink back into his touch. Shit, how long have I been working on this without a break? “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

“She wouldn’t, but I would. I’m a designer, and I refuse to have my best friend, someone who’s like a sister to me, not wear something I made for her wedding. Elodie always used to say I’d make her wedding dress, and I don’t think I’d forgive myself if I fucked this up now.”

“How can I help?”

“I… You want to help?”

“Of course. You’re stressed, and more importantly, I want to help you because I love you.”

No one, not even Elodie, has offered to help me sew. Elodie doesn’t get why I like it, but she still supports me. So Evren offering to do anything he can to make it all easier on me is yet another way of how he shows up for me, constantly.

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” I ask. “And…can you help me pin this up on the dress form?” I hold up the bodice. I don’t need help. I’m used to doing it alone, but I also don’t want to push Evren and his offer away.

“I’ll doanythingyou want or need.”

“Anything?” I raise my eyebrow at his innuendo.

He pointedly stares at my pussy and says, “Anything. Tell me this.” He holds the fabric to the form and then I pin it. “Has anyone ever eaten you out while you sewed?”

“No.” My voice turns breathy and needy at the thought of him feasting on me.

A filthy smirk crosses his face. “Then we’re about to fix that.”

Chapter 31

Evren

“What’s something you used to do for fun,” Nina asks, “but haven’t done in a long time?”

I pour her a cup of coffee and hand it to her.

“Fishing,” I say. “I used to love it, but I haven’t gone in…ten years? Maybe more?”

“Why did you stop?” she asks, taking a bite of her cereal.

“I don’t know. I guess I got too busy and then forgot about it.”

“Well, that’s unacceptable. Let’s plan a trip somewhere with fishing.”

“Do you even like fishing?” I ask.

She snorts. “Not at all, but that doesn’t matter. I can come along for moral support, as long as I don’t have to touch the actual fish or bait a hook.”

“Really?” I can’t keep the surprise from my tone.Not one of my so-called friends ever wanted to support or join in on any hobby of mine. It’s yet another realization that maybe I never had a real friend before, or maybe I did when I was young, but it all got twisted around the more successful I got.

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