Page 80 of Twist of Date

“It must have been bad if you’re still in bed,” Stella adds.

“We were caught,” I say, my words drawn out as if it was only a matter of time.

Cassie leans back, eyes wide. I study my hands in my lap.

An “oh snap” comes from Stella.

“Cole and I were having a moment. I was trying to break things off with him, we were alone in the parlor, and somehow we started going at it like teenagers.”

Cassie gasps. “You got caught bumping uglies?” There’s a hint of laughter in her voice.

“We weren’t having sex, but his hand was busy and I was so freaking close to reaching the Promised Land.” I pout. Damn, that orgasm would have been a good one.

Stella lets out another whistle. “Dang it. I always miss the good stuff.”

“Who caught you? Oh my gosh, please do not say it was Ruth,” Cassie quickly adds.

I cover my face with my hand and groan, thumping my head back onto the headboard. “Mina, the woman he’s been matched with.”

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” Cassie repeats.

“Fuck,” Stella says bluntly.

“And the editor-in-chief of the Hoosier Insider. Followed closely by both Grams and Dorthy.”

“Son of a monkey!” Cassie cries and cradles her head in her hands.

“Shit, Baked Lays, you really know how to cause a scene.” Stella laughs, using an old nickname I haven’t heard in years.

“I know. It was so bad,” I mumble.

“How did Cole handle it? Actually, where is Cole?” Stella asks.

“We broke up. Right after, I officially ended it then left the scene of the crime.” I refuse to look at the women staring back at me.

“No,” Cassie whispers.

“But you don’t really want to break up, right? It was just a knee-jerk reaction. You’ll call him and make up and all will be good?” Stella hedges.

I glance at her. “Uh, no. We are done.”

“Layla, for real?” she replies.

“The only thing I really care about right now is the fact that I’ve tarnished HEA’s name,” I tell them.

Cassie shakes her head. “No, I don’t think you have. And even if word did get out about this, I really don’t think it’s enough for us to lose business.”

“Yeah, worst case some of your client’s eye you a little when you’re talking about their match. No harm. It’s not like you’re a real-life man-eater,” Stella adds.

“Look, I don’t know Natalie well, but we’ve always been friendly. I planned her sister’s wedding last year. Let me reach out to her. See what kind of damage control I can do,” Cassie offers and I want to hug her. But I don’t because I’ll probably cry.

“You would do that?” I ask, emotion caught in my throat.

“Absolutely, HEA is just as much mine as it is yours, boo. I got you.” Cassie just shrugs like it’s no big deal that I may have fucked everything up for us.

Just then my phone vibrates and I close my eyes. It’s either Grams or Cole. I don’t want to talk to either right now.

Cassie reaches out, placing a hand on my forearm. “Have you talked to Ruth?”

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