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Damn it.
I could cope with him being demanding. I could cope with him being needy. I could even cope with him being petty and childish for unknown reasons. I could cope with him dirty talking in my ear and touching me in indecent ways.
I could not cope with this sweet, considerate version of him.
Neither could my heart.
ME: I should be back by 9.30 tomorrow night. You’ll just have to wait.
THE BASTARD: I’m not very patient.
ME: I don’t know why you’re telling me that. I already know.
THE BASTARD: I can’t believe I was missing you.
ME: Believe me, the feeling is mutual.
THE BASTARD: Can you do me a favour?
ME: What?
THE BASTARD: Harvey said your aunt tries to set you up with guys at her parties.
ME: Unfortunately, he was telling the truth. If I’d had more time, I’d have started a betting pool for tonight’s victim.
THE BASTARD: Don’t go out with them.
My heart skipped.
ME: I never do.
THE BASTARD: Good. Make sure you don’t.
***
“Chloe!” Aunt Fizz wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tightly against her. “I missed you!”
“I missed you, too, Aunt Fizz,” I said, patting her back. “But I can’t breathe.”
“You don’t need to breathe, my darling, my love, my little sweetie pie.” She rocked me from side to side. “How could you be away from me for four whole weeks?”
“Take it up with Theo,” Harvey said, rocking his chair on the back two legs. “He’s the one who whisked her away to the romantic Lake District for six weeks.”
Aunt Fizz stilled and cradled me, touching her hand to the back of my head like I was some fantasy novel protagonist on the cusp of danger. “He and I will fall out. How dare he take my precious Chloe from me?”
Harvey stared at her. “You do realise you’remymother, don’t you?”
“It’s a well-known fact aunts prefer their nieces and nephews.”
“I don’t think it is.”
“It should be well-known by you that this aunt prefers her niece. Even that aside, she’s like a daughter to me, so get over it.”
“Aunt Fizz.” I gently poked her back. “Please. I can’t breathe.”
“Let her go, Felicity.” Uncle Jay extracted me from her enthusiastic embrace and pulled me out of her reach. “And don’t provoke Harvey. You know he’ll just bully her.”
I pressed my lips together as Harvey turned his glare on his father.
