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I order the same spicy seafood pasta Indie does. It's perfect with the rich red wine. Fresh pasta, tangy tomatoes, perfectly cooked shrimp, the bite of roasted red peppers.
More wine.
Sambuca dessert. Anise flavored liquor. Sharp, sweet, unique.
Indie giggles as she finishes her glass. She's tipsy, happy, at ease.
But Sienna—
She's on her second limoncello.
"You're giving your age away by ordering the sweet stuff," Cam stage whispers.
"I like dessert," she says. "I can get with that whole when-in-Rome thing Ty was going on about. Here we are, eating fine Italian food, enjoying the after-dinner liqueur tradition."
"But…" Cam raises a brow.
"It's not dessert."
"But more will fill your craving?" His voice is flirty.
"Well… maybe." She smiles. "Or maybe I need something else."
I shoot him a don't.
Which only makes him smile. "I hate to say it, but it's getting late. Should I escort you home, Miss Simms? To give our friends some alone time?"
Sienna's eyes light up. "Good idea."
"Over my dead body." Indie clears her throat. "I mean, that's a very generous offer. Thank you, Cam."
"But over your dead body?" He laughs. "You think I'd make a pass at your sister?"
"No. I know she'll make a pass at you," Indie says. She gives her sister a look I can't place.
Sienna nods. "Or… we can ride home together. You can drop me off. And have your way with Ty after I go to bed."
Cam chuckles. "You just realized you failed your wing woman duties?"
She nods. "It's a deep shame to be the excuse."
"Stop at one next time." Indie stands. Motions for Sienna to follow. "Come on. Bathroom. Then we'll go."
"Oh, wow, are we actually doing that? Girls going to the bathroom together for a pow-wow." She laughs. "I love it." Sienna stands. Nods a good night to me. Blows Cam a kiss. "Until we return."
"Until then." He catches the kiss. Presses it to his heart.
Indie laughs, but she still leads Sienna to the bathroom with quick steps. They giggle as they walk.
Happy.
Comfortable.
Like the four of us are old friends.
Like this is real.
Cam finishes his glass of wine. "Is there any point in offering to pay?"
I shake my head.
He chuckles. "You'll have to let me one day."
"If Ian ever lets me pay for him," I say.
Cam watches the girls disappear in the hallway. "I don't think you're getting lucky tonight."
A laugh escapes my lips. "Do you think I'd invite you if that was my plan?"
He smiles. "Is it hard being surrounded by men more handsome than you?"
"Painful."
He looks to me. "She's funny. Like you."
"Like me?" I ask.
He nods. "Serious on the surface. Waiting to be drawn out."
"The opposite of you?"
"Of course. This nonsense is an act to hide the pain in my soul." His voice is teasing, but there's a truth to it.
We both know the playboy act is a put on.
"She's striking," he says. "But not pretty the way Rory was. She's sharp. Angular."
"Are you complimenting her or insulting her?" I ask.
"Which would upset you more?" he asks.
"If you implied you were going to fuck her."
He chuckles. "I would if it wasn't so ridiculous. She doesn't have eyes for anyone else. I can tell."
That's true.
"She's not like Rory," he says.
That could mean a lot of things. "How's that?"
"She's not dating you for the cache then bailing when she realizes what it means."
"Rory wasn't—"
"It's your life. You'd know better."
"I was with her for two years."
"And you loved her, I know. But I won't pretend I liked you together," he says. "She didn't want to be a part of your world, Ty. She wanted you to be a part of hers."
She did, but that was what I wanted too. I wanted to fit into this perfect image.
"Gorgeous though. I can't blame you for staying."
"Yes, that was it. Her tits. Two years because I liked her tits."
He chuckles. "You wouldn't be the first man to stay for nice tits."
That is the sad truth of our gender. "We're all ruled by our cocks."
He raises his glass. "I'll toast to that."
I chuckle as I raise my wineglass.
"Are you two compatible there?" He takes a sip.
"You're just like her sister."
"Sienna?" He smiles just to rile me. "She's cute. Don't you think?"
"Adorable." I try to hide the don't even think about it in my voice, but I fail.
He laughs you're too easy. "And funny too."
"She's eighteen," I say.
"So?"
"Don't."
He chuckles, easy. "You could distract me by answering my question."
"Yes. I enjoy fucking my girlfriend."
"Does she share your taste?"
"Why do I tell you shite?"
He motions to the bottle of wine on the table.
"Fuck off."
"You fuck off. You think I don't know why you invited me out?"
"Why?" I ask.
"I'm your practice run," he says. "Before you introduce your girlfriend to Ian."
"You are not."
"I'm used to it. Everyone knows you idolize him." He looks to the hallway. "And this is big. He was relieved when Rory ended things."
