Page 87 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

But I don’t want him to be my ex anymore. I never actually did, but last night decided it. And it’s not the sex. It’s him. The way he looks at me. The way he touches me. I see my Will in there that I’ve spent so long missing and he’s all I want, still.

‘I don’t regret anything,’ I say.

Will has that stupid adorably crooked grin on his face with my words. He sits up, kissing my shoulder, holding his lips there for a moment, glancing at me with only his eyes. That look is what I’m talking about. I haven’t seen this in so long.

‘The twat-waffles downstairs – they’re Berkley’s prisoners,’ he says to Olivia.

‘Youkidnappedthem? I assumed they fluttered in from the underworld as demons do.’ She laughs at her own joke. ‘What am I supposed to do with them? It’s like a zoo down there. They’re asking me to feed them and you know I’m not an animal person. I don’t even like chasing Pokémon.Why are they here and asking me for food?’

‘Because they’re suddenly broke,’ Will says, now fishing his underwear from the floor with his foot and flawlessly pulling them on without ever flashing either of us. Liv and I exchange curious glances, then watch him nod like he’s proud of this feat. ‘That’s a little trick I eventually learned after being on television for years.’ He waggles his eyebrows, grabs the rest of his clothing from my floor, and heads out to the living room.

Olivia follows, drilling him about his family as I put on some clothing while she’s distracted. Obviously him being half-naked on TV for years has her a little too comfortable fighting with him while he’s in his underwear. They’ve known one another forever but it’s still a sight to see.

‘How do you go from multi-millionaire to broke overnight?’ she asks, as I walk into the front room now clothed.

‘By fucking over the IRS,’ Will says. ‘I’ll take care of them. I need to go take a shower and change. I’ll bring them with me.’

‘No!’ I blurt, crossing the room to him as he pulls on his jeans. ‘They need to think you’re broke. If you waltz them into Hotel Deluxe, they’re not leaving until you’ve bought the place for them. Stay in character. You’re broke.’ I walk to my purse, pulling out some cash. ‘You’re paying for breakfast with the cash Berkley gave you, got it?’ I coach him.

‘Why wouldyoupay?’ Liv asks.

‘We’ve convinced his parents that Will is broke too.’

She stands before us, a blank stare on her face. ‘Just kick them all out. This isourstore, no Adlers allowed, remember?’

I heave a sigh. ‘Yeah, so, remember Frank calling to announce he’s selling the store?’

‘Yes…’ Olivia says curiously.

‘It sold,’ I say nervously. ‘To Will.’

‘A freaking Adler got involved in our business?’ she snaps, glaring at Will as he pulls his shirt over his head.

‘His family bid against him hoping to put us out of business.’

She seethes. ‘Estúpidos jodidos Adlers.’

‘I understood two words of that and I agree,’ Will says. ‘Don’t worry, everything is going in Berkley’s name. This is you girls’ store,notmine.’

‘And I’m just supposed to accept that my livelihood is now owned by an Adler?’

Will shrugs. ‘If Berkley forgives me, isn’t it best friend law or something that you have to as well?’

Liv rolls her eyes, a sly smile on her face. ‘Isn’t it boyfriend law that you don’t continually act like a moron?’

He sits down on the couch, putting on his shoes. ‘So, we’re at war?’

‘You ran away like a coward while I was the one to make sure she was alright through all this while you lived your life as a professional party boy whose longtime girlfriend waited in the wings for you to pull your head from your ass. So, until I see you wavin’ a white flag, yes, we’re at war.’

Will stands from the couch, nodding his head until he finally sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets as he approaches her.

‘You’re absolutely right. Thank you for picking up where I failed. I let down all my real friends for people who made me miserable because I thought it would get me somewhere in life. Turned out that place was heartbreak island and rehab. I promise, Liv, I’m not here just to make up with Berkley. There’s you, Bryce, Bianca and even Gunner. I’m sorry I was a dick.’

She wants to be pissed; I can see it on her face. ‘Damn it, heischarming isn’t he?’ she says to me. ‘But I’m watching you, Adler.’ She motions from her eyes to his. ‘Consider yourself on probation.’

‘Deal,’ he says, glancing back at me. ‘I’m gonna go. Change. Shower. Grab something for breakfast I know they won’t enjoy, maybe something partially frozen?’ he suggests.

There’s my Will. ‘That’s perfect!’

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