Page 224 of Taeja

“I realized the last time I was here,” Liza confessed. “It’s sad that I lost one of my oldest friendships because my emotions got the best of me.”

Nodding, Damon stood and moved to the sink to wash up. “That’s life. You gain some and lose some.”

Liza looked over her shoulder as the doorbell rang throughout the house. “I think that’s them. Are you ready?”

“My car or yours?” Damon asked as they walked toward the front.

“I’m low on gas. Drive yours.”

“Let’s drive yours. I’ll fill your tank.”

Liza smiled, bumping him with her shoulder as she handed him the key. “I love being the only girl in the group. You guys always spoil me. Especially Tsion.”

Damon chuckled as he opened the door, greeting the driver of the tow truck. He led him to the garage, watching as the worker hooked El’s car to the truck. Damon’s mouth dried as the truck left his yard, heading toward the junkyard.

Liza laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll drive.”

Damon numbly nodded as she took the key from him. He mindlessly entered Liza’s car, his body tense as he stared at the car ahead of them…

Jumping onto his back,she tugged him down onto the bed. Her loud laughs rang into his ear. “Please, D? Pleaseee?”

Damon rolled his eyes, stifling a laugh as she hugged his back. “You act like a kid sometimes, you know?”

“I’m not even twenty-five! I’m still young,” Eloise laughed, slapping him upside the head.

“Ow, El!” Damon groaned, rubbing the spot.

She laughed, slapping him again. “That didn’t hurt. Stop lying.”

“How are you going to tell me what I feel?”

“Whatever, D. Stop distracting me. Please?”

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll bring your stupid dog to the vet.”

Eloise gasped. “Peaches isn’t stupid!”

A low growl came from thecorner of the room. Damon glanced in the corner. Peaches was hands down the craziest Chihuahua Damon had ever met. He had no idea why Eloise got it instead of a saner animal.

“Peaches agrees with me,” Eloise chimed.

Damon rolled over, his hands landing on her waist as she fixed herself atop him. “Of course, your mutt would agree,” he said, and Eloise playfully glared at him. Damon smiled, and when Eloise smiled back, it widened.

He always loved the deep dimples on her cheek. They made her look prettier than she already was. With her big bright eyes and head full of fiery red curls, Eloise Washington was perfection.

His dream girl.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eloise whispered.

“Because I love you.”

Eloise blushed and looked away. “I guess I love you, too,” she joked, with much emphasis on ‘guess’.

Damon scoffed. “Whatever makes you sleep at night, El.”

Humming, she kissed him, then hopped off him. Moving around the room, she found a pair of shoes and tugged them on. “I’ll be back later. Remember Peaches.”

“I won’t forget.”

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