Page 57 of Over the Moon

“It was fine.”

“Fine? Just fine? I’m sure it was more than fine,” she said, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

“I didn’t have fun. I went out with them because I wanted to make you jealous.” I shrugged. “I had one drink, and I went home. Started puking shortly after.”

“Really?” She arched a brow.

“I have no reason to lie. It’s not like we’re together.” My pinky finger wrapped around hers. “You’ve just now agreed to be friends.”

“So why did you want to make me jealous, then?” she asked, intertwining her fingers in mine.

“Because I saw you talking to that asshole, Brett, and I didn’t like it.”

“Why?” she whispered. “He was just there, and he opened up about his dad. His father is not doing well. I empathize with that, you know?”

Well now I felt like a dick. I might not be a fan of Brett’s, but I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, and I liked his father. “I’m sorry to hear that. And it was kind of you to speak to him about it.”

“So you saw me talking to Brett, and then you left with Laney and Sasha to make me jealous? Why?”

“I don’t know, Eloise. It’s dumb. I guess I thought you liked him, and you just weren’t telling me.”

“And that bothered you?”

“It bothered me,” I said, my gaze locking with hers.

“I don’t like him.”

“Good. He’s an asshole, but I am sorry to hear about this dad. But at the end of the day, you deserve better.”

She chuckled. “What do I deserve?”

“You deserve the best. You deserve everything you want, Eloise.” I tucked the hair behind her ear, my thumb stroking her cheek as her gaze locked with mine. Her eyes were wide and trusting as I took in the dusting of freckles on the bridge of her nose. Her breaths were coming faster now, and it took all I had not to pull her onto my lap.

“I’m not used to you calling me by my actual name. You did it yesterday, and I thought you were annoyed with me.” Her voice was just above a whisper.

“And I’m doing it today, and I’m definitely not annoyed with you.” I chuckled, my gaze locked with hers. “I’m being serious with you. You deserve only the best.”

“You’re so much better than a professional friend, Clark Chadwick.” She smiled, and I swear my fucking chest squeezed.

Even lying here with a fever, I wanted this woman.

I wanted her so bad I didn’t know how to handle it.

“What if I’m a professional friend who wants to kiss you?” I stroked the inside of her palm with my thumb.

“That wouldn’t be very professional,” she smirked.

“I think you want to kiss me, too. I think that’s why you got jealous yesterday. I think that’s why you’re here, because you like me, Weeze.”

She sighed. “We’ve talked about this. It can’t go anywhere, so why bother?”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because we’re friends,” she said, her tongue darting out to swipe along her bottom lip. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Why is it so hard for you to admit that you like me?” I intertwined my fingers with hers.

“You know I like you. I’m not denying that.”

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