Page 83 of Beautiful Sins

25

Rae

“You guys seem good,” Annie says over her non-alcoholic cocktail as we sit around the couch. The living room looks out on the patio and pool and West Hollywood beyond.

“We’re figuring it out,” I admit.

“You sure looked like you had it figured out at Spago last week.” She holds out her phone with a gossip column picture of me and Harrison after our meal at the restaurant.

“Since when do you comb the gossip online?”

“Since they started posting pictures of my favorite private couple. What was he saying to you?”

My hand is laced in his, and he’s whispering in my ear.

“Don’t remember.” I blink back at my friend.

“Bullshit.”

She’s right. I totally remember.

Annie’s six-year-old half sister, Sophie, climbs up next to me with a book in hand.

“You want me to read?” I ask her, amused.

“No. I’ll read to you.”

She starts to, and I tuck back the soft hair that falls over her face.

“Watch out, or you’ll have some of your own soon,” Elle jokes, dropping onto the chair across from us.

My usual knee-jerk shudder isn’t there.

“Not soon,” I correct. “Maybe someday.”

Annie leans in, hopeful. “Do you love him?”

I sneak a look at Harrison.

“You do,” she goes on without my answering.

“It’s almost like the harder it gets, the closer we are. If that makes sense.”

She nods, enthusiastic.

My phone buzzes with text from Leni, along with a picture.

Excitement jolts through me. “Oh my God. No way.”

“What?” Elle demands.

I explain what I’ve been working on, and Annie sighs.

“Send me a picture of his face when you show him.”

Elle nudges her with a toe. “A, His face is going to be eating her once she shows him.”

Annie claps hands over Sophie’s ears, glaring at us both.

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