Page 51 of Damián

I lean closer to him. “You have one right now.”

Damián looks genuinely shocked for a split second before looking absolutely pleased. He bursts into a new fit of laughter. “You bet I do.”

He reaches over and taps the large silver dome covering the room service tray.

“What’s in here?”

“Fanciest food imaginable. I’m not sure you have the palate for it.”

Damián lifts the silver cover, revealing a delicious-looking artisanal pepperoni pizza. His face lights up.

“You like?” I ask.

“I like it a lot.” Damián takes the pizza plate off the tray, walks to the middle of the living room, and places it right on the floor.

“Dami, we are in a luxury suite at the Waldorf.” I point to the gigantic glass dining table a few feet away. “There’s a perfectly good table right there.”

“The best way to eat pizza is on the floor,” he declares, patting the carpet next to him. “Grab our drinks and sit down, baby-boo.”

I roll my eyes but grab our sodas and settle cross-legged next to him. I take a bite of my slice and groan. “Oh, my God. It’s been ages since I’ve had pizza this good.”

“Your choice in food was great. I’ve been craving pizza for a week now.”

“Really? I’ve been craving pie, but room service doesn’t seem to have any.”

“I know the best place for pies,” Damián says after eating a mouthful of crust. “Want to come with me on Friday?”

“I can’t. I’m meeting someone,” I say, but the moment the words leave my mouth, Damián’s smile falls, and his jaw tenses.

I blink, suddenly second-guessing myself.

Oh, crap… Was I supposed to tell Harknett my plans first?

“I can go out, right? I thought I was supposed to follow my normal routine and act natural, but if it’s a security risk, I can cancel—”

“Who is this ‘someone’?” Damián interrupts.

“What?”

“You said you’re meeting someone. Who?”

“I’m… meeting Zara. I haven’t seen her in three weeks, and she’ll probably stab me if I keep saying I’m busy.”

Damián’s eyes search my face for a few seconds, although I am unclear on what he’s looking to find. “You’re going out with Zara?”

“Yes.”

“Just Zara?”

“Just her.”

Damián lets out a long breath, his shoulders relax, his smile comes back, and he looks… relieved?

I mean, I guess it makes sense he is relieved, since Harknett already cleared Zara, and he knows she’s not a threat.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll see her on Friday.” I smile and bite a big chunk of my delicious pizza slice.

“Well…” Damián wipes his hands on a napkin and scratches at his stubble. “She can come eat pie with us… If she wants to… Of course.”