Page 61 of The Exception

“No.” I should stop staring. “I just hadn’t realized it was possible to like you more.” Especially comparing her to someone like Isabella. When I’d realized she was only in Italy for her baby daddys’ money and connections I’d been so furious. Kandace was in a different realm. “You’re incredible in every way.”

“Not in every way. I do have some flaws.”

“But even those are good.” Eli’s words echoed my thoughts.

An exaggerated gagging sound broke through the conversation. “Do you want me to come back?” Lucas had returned.

“As long as you take their attention off me, you can stay.” Kandace’s reply was a blend of teasing and serious.

“Pft.” Lucas set two take-out bags on the table. “I already know about my mom. I want to know about you guys.”

I was one of my favorite subjects.

Kandace was already handing out boxes. “Tell him to stop if he makes you uncomfortable.”

Seemed unlikely. “I don’t really get uncomfortable,” I said.

“We noticed.” Eli winked.

“So are you or are you not secret lovers who have been married, secretly, in secret since Corey left the show?” Lucas asked.

I hid my wince and braced myself for Eli’s reaction. I’d been wrong—this made me uncomfortable.

Kandace’s grimace shone through loud and clear. “You don’t open a conversation that way. We should eat before the food gets cold.”

“What?” Lucas didn’t look fazed. “Of course I’m going to ask the tough questions up front.”

“It’s okay.” At Eli’s assurance, some of the tension drained from the room, and hope sparked inside me. “And no, is the answer to your question,” he said. “Austin and I haven’t spoken for more than a decade, up until a week or two ago.”

Lucas looked between Eli and me. “And…?”

“You want the full story, you’ll have to buy the book.” My flippant answer came easily. Probably not the best way to move the conversation along.

Especially the way Lucas’s eyes grew wide. “There’s going to be a book?”

Kandace’s shock turned to an adorable smirk as she opened the takeout bag and began to extract boxes.

Lucas lightly smacked her hand. “No working for you. Sit down next to yourboyfriends, and I’ll take care of this.”

Kandace raised her brows, but complied, taking a seat between Eli and me.

“There should be a book.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. TherealDonovan and Corey story. No. Wait. That was too rhymey.

Eli rolled his eyes, but he didn’t look upset. “Are you going to write it?”

“Hello. I’m not the writer.” Duh.

“No, there’s not going to be a book.” Eli shook his head. “My half of the story would be dull as all get out and Austin’s half is already online for the world to see.”

“But I want the secret, sordid stuff that people speculate about but never really get to hear,” Lucas handed me a box, then Eli, and Kandace.

He expected drama, and would probably be super disappointed with the truth.

“You don’t want the secret, sordid stuff,” Eli assured him.

Lucas extracted the last box, crumpled the plastic, and tossed it away. “Yes I do.”

No. He didn’t. “It involves your mom,” I said.

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