Page 7 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Dowhat?’ I ask, desperately trying to pull it together. I glance at Will, completely confused.

‘You still haven’t told her?’ Jacob asks, his face full of amusement.

‘Based on the convos Berkley and I have had today, I can confirm he hasnottold her,’ Mike interjects, an evil grin on his face as he frantically taps at his phone screen because his lifeline to the world has recently drowned and he needs to resuscitate it.

‘I’m working on it,’ Will snaps back. ‘I was going to talk to her tonight—’

‘Talk to me aboutwhat?’

Will kneels next to me, glancing at the check and card in my hand before dragging a hand down his face.

‘If he won’t say it, I will. We’re doing a show,’ Felicity says like I’m the dumbest girl in all the land. ‘PDX Royals. It’s about a lifestyle you wouldn’t understand,bookgirl.’

She calls me ‘book girl’ like it’s supposed to hurt my feelings. ‘Thank you,rudegirl.’

Will says nothing at all. He just looks vocally constipated in a way that’s pissing me off. I turn my attention back to the table.

‘PDX Royals? What is this show?The Real World: Trust Fund Edition?’

‘I can’t believe she guessed it,’ Mike says flatly, a smug smirk on his stupid face.

‘Don’t worry, muffin,’ Finn says, nudging me with his elbow. ‘After you dump Will, you can bunk with me.’

Gross.

‘One more word from you, and I’ll hurt you,’ Will says, pointing a finger at Finn.

‘William!’ Melinda bolsters. ‘We donotthreaten violence in this house.’

‘Bullshit, we don’t,’ Will counters.

‘Can everyone just…stop…talking!’ The table silences at my raised voice as I throw my hands out in front of me, attempting to focus on everything being said. I feel like my head is on a swivel as different information comes at me from different people. I look to Will, still kneeling beside me, frustration on his face as he stares at the check in his hand.

‘You’redoingthis show?’

He shakes his head, his hand on my knee, fixing me with his eyes.Don’t do that. Don’t sweet-talk me with your beautiful smoldering face.

‘I, uh…’ He swallows hard before finishing his sentence. ‘I don’t know yet.’

‘You don’tknow?’ Mike bursts a laugh. ‘You signed a contract, a lease, and we start filming in two weeks. You’re definitely doing it.’

A contract and a lease? Butwehad plans to move in together three weeks from today. We designed the place together, and Will insisted he pay the contractor. They’ve nearly finished. Oh, my God. Thisis why he wanted to make sure I knew he loved me? So I wouldn’t be mad? Well, he’s in luck. I’m not mad. I’m fucking livid.

I stand up, tossing my napkin at Will. He stands with me, casually grabbing the napkin before it can hit his face. I yank the check from his other hand, wad it up and throw it at his father, watching it bounce off his forehead and onto his plate.

‘Well, this was fun,’ I say sarcastically.

‘Berkley—’ Will attempts to grab my hand, but I pull away.

‘You know what? I don’tneedmoney to leave this family alone. The lying and reminders I’m not worthy are plenty to make me never want to step foot in this house again.’

I turn to Will, my heart utterly full of pins, like a voodoo doll. I blink back tears as I attempt to find the words I need, but they’re angry and I know they’ll do more damage than good. Will’s the only person I’ve ever stopped and considered my words with because I never want to hurt him, yet now I’m about to tell him off in front of his family.

‘I can’t believe you’re actually one of them. You lied to me, William. Just like a fucking Adler. We had plans for our future and you go off and make this kind of decision without even talking to me? Not even a heads-up. Just a family dinner to toss me aside so you can live life on some ridiculous fucking show.’

‘Berkley.’ Will repeats my name, his voice weak, extending a hand my way. ‘Let’s go talk.’

‘I have nothing to say to you.’

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