Page 40 of The CEO I Hate

I snorted, releasing Sophie’s face.

“Was there a lot of tongue action?” she asked.

I grumbled. “Don’t start.”

“What?” Sophie started laughing. “I don’t want to say I told you so, but I absolutely, totally, completely told you so!”

“It’s not funny.”

“I said I could clock desire in a man, and Liam wants you.Bad.”

“Obviously not bad enough since he keeps doing the make out equivalent of dining and dashing. Actually, we don’t even get to the dining part,” I complained. “He’s like…trying an appetizer and then dashing.”

Sophie reached out and tucked a stray curl back into the bun on the top of my head. “Because he’s trying to do the right thing.”

“And the right thing is rejecting me? Repeatedly?”

“The right thing is not sexing up his best friend’s little sister.” She picked up my drink and took a dainty little sip. “But you’re obviously wearing his resistance down.”

“I wasn’t trying to wear him down,” I said, even as my heart raced at that thought.

“Here’s an idea. You invite him down here. I’ll get you up on stage. Let you shimmy all that eye candy around. Trust me, even Liam Lockhart won’t be able to resist.”

I snorted. “You know I’d shimmy myself right off the stage.” My phone buzzed again. Our eyes fell to it.

“Is that him?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Probably. He was texting a lot when I was driving over here, so I just started ignoring my phone.”

“Is ignoring Liam really what you want to do?”

“Yes,” I said, grinding my teeth as I replayed the moment he stormed out of the room at the studio, leaving me standing there, still heavingfrom our kiss. “Screw him, you know? Like why does he get to keep stomping onmyfeelings?”

Sophie patted my knee. “Well, have a couple more drinks. And if you still feel like that at the end of the night, I’ll help you throw bologna and toilet paper all over his fancy Porsche.”

“This is why we’re friends,” I said, grabbing her hand.

“I know.” She gave me a wink before dancing away to open the doors and welcome in the night’s guests.

My phone buzzed again, and I finally flipped it over. Itwasfrom Liam. So were the last five texts.

Mia, I know you’re ignoring me!

We need to talk.

I didn’t mean to walk out like that.

We’ve got to iron this out.

So that we can work together and keep things professional.

Anger surged through me. I snatched up my phone, my fingers flying across the screen.Oh, professional…like this afternoon? You mean the part where you kissed me and then bolted, right? Because that was very professional of you.

Hewas the one who dragged me out of the rehearsal room, accusing me of making moves on the actors!Hewas the one who kissed me first! And now that I’d had a little liquid courage, I was finally ready to let Liam know how I felt about it.

Have you finally stopped sulking long enough for us to have a conversation?came his snarky reply.

My brows knitted together so tightly, I got a little pain in the center ofmy forehead.I’m at the Scarlet Parlor. You want to talk, I’ll do it here or nowhere.

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