Page 200 of Dangerous Encore
"Yeah."
"Fuck, I can't possibly understand why you'd look so miserable after staring at what must be a text from your fiancée with those communicationskills."
"Fuckoff."
"You invitedyourselfhere."
I know. I just… "You would haveinsisted."
He shrugsfair enough. "What didshesay?"
"She's having dinner withEthan."
"Chose her brother over you?Harsh."
"AndViolet."
Joel laughs. "Morereasonable."
I nod. Piper adores Violet more than… well more than anybody adores anybody else. They're like sisters without therivalry.
"What did you do to piss her off?"heasks.
"It's notlikethat."
"Course. It's not that cliché nagging wife shit. But she is a Strong. They'redifficult."
"Tell me something Idon'tknow."
He nods to the carafe. "Youwantsome."
"Yeah."
He grabs a cup from the pantry, fills it with coffee, gets out the sugar and a spoon, and leaves them on the table. "Still going with thatI need the dopaminebullshit?"
"It'sbullshit?"
"It's been threeyears."
"And?"
"Just admit you like itthatway?"
"What's ittoyou?"
He shrugs. "Fuck. You need to get laid. You're more pissy than I am, and I haven't slept in threenights."
"And I'm supposed to believe it'sjust'cause ofHermoine?"
Joel's smile is bright. "Well, I hatetobrag…"
I arch a brow. "Doyou?"
"Why you trying to hurt me like that, Lockhart?" He laughs. "I might have spent half the night making my wife come. I gotta say. Having a soundproof room is fucking amazing forthisshit."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, we turn the baby monitor on, then we can make as much fucking noise aswewant."
