Page 39 of Holding You

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Her gaze narrows. “Right.”

“You’re really offering me an out?”

“I’m offeringmyselfan out,” she says without missing a beat.

I grin then stand up.

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I move to head into her house to grab Susie, but then stop.

“Hey, you know what?” I ask.

“What?”

“I bet that you and I are officially friends by the end of the summer.”

She ignores me and opens her book.

“Maybe even best friends.”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

I chuckle and head inside.

This summer just got a whole lot more interesting.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RUBY

I have regret.

Lots of it.

And it’s been less than twenty-four hours.

I blow out my next breath.

There were so many things I should have said last night. Rules we should have set once he agreed to move in.

But this is Declan. Despite my feelings toward him, he’s a grown man. My family trusts him, he will more than likely be okay with any rules I set, and I’m confident that this is all going to be fine.

It has to be.

I’m going to have to play nice.

I’m going to have to learn to relax.

I’m going to need advice.

The next girls’ night couldn’t have come at a better time.

Since I’m a little late, I park in front of Brooke’s house and jog up the sidewalk. I don’t bother knocking as I blaze through the door.

The girls are sitting in the living room with multiple trays ofsnacks on the coffee table and each of them with a mimosa in hand.

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