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“The thing with…his stalker.”

“Exactly.”

“No. That would be nice.” She sighs. “I forgot I applied for Heart and Hype.”

If she applied, then I know she got it. But if she forgot, then she’s obviously not going.

“Unfortunately, with everything going on, I couldn’t make it work.”

While I can’t remember seeing Arthur Munreaux at a single performance, I do know he’s very strict. Whenever we would travel for cheer, Ever would go a little crazy, almost as if she was an escaped zoo animal. Something changed in the fall because she started sneaking out to party even when we weren’t traveling. That is, until she got a bodyguard that made staying in far more appealing.

“I totally understand. Your safety is more important.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I’m sure we’ll see each other sometime over the summer.”

All I get is a tight smile.

Her break must be packed.

“Or even before then. Maybe this week sometime. You can still go out, right?”

“Ye—”

Crue clears his throat.

After a quick roll of her eyes, she corrects herself, saying, “No. Not unless Major wants to go clubbing.”

I don’t know if Crue was in the miliary or if Ever’s nickname for him is for another reason entirely, like how I call my mom Sarge.

The bodyguard mutters, “Over my dead body.”

“Tempting,” my friend singsongs with a tilt to her head and a smirk that’s anything but threatening.

Feigning indifference, Crue looks away, but not fast enough to hide the small twitch of his lips.

When I first saw the two interact, I felt some tension between them, mostly animosity but also something else—an underlying desire, like roots hesitantly spreading below the surface. I mean, they’re ridiculously attractive, both in their own unique way, so why wouldn’t there be? But now it seems those roots have sprouted a stem, making their feelings for each other unmistakable.

A jealousy I’m unfamiliar with takes hold of me, refusing to let go. Have I ever looked at Guy like that? Has he ever looked at me like that? If he did, I never saw it. Never felt it either.

“Your boyfriend wouldn’t mind?”

“If I went out?” I shake my head. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him.”

“But you would’ve?” Something about her tone makes me think she doesn’t like that scenario. The nose flare, too, like the prospect literally stinks to her.

“Work’s been keeping him pretty busy lately, so he might not even notice.” And that’s the sad truth, I honestly don’t think he would.

“What about that stepbrother of yours?”

“What about him?”

Did the temperature rise ten degrees in the last two seconds?

“How’s he liking Sea Haven?”

“I think he’s bored of it.” He did go back to visit the city once already. That I know of.