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Caroline eats with small bites, a contemplative expression on her face.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Our lives seem to belong in different spheres. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but it’s simple compared to yours. After me, you dated models and stars, and I couldn’t help wondering that maybe you broke things off because I wasn’t enough.”
“No! I was young and stupid, and it had nothing to do with you. I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. I admit I also wanted to experiment more. But the thought of being in it for the long haul scared me.” I struggle for words, wanting to make this perfectly clear.
“Dan, it’s okay. We were twenty-one. I get it. No one’s ready for forever at that age.”
“Except our parents.”
She grins. “True.”
“So, you kept a close eye on me, huh?”
Nodding, she lowers her eyes to the plate, pushing around the food with her fork. “Go ahead, laugh.”
“I’m not laughing. I did the same.”
“How? My life wasn’t under public scrutiny like yours.” She frowns, but then her expression blooms into a full smile as she puts two and two together. “Your sisters.”
“Exactly. Alice stayed out of it, but Pippa and Summer were relentless. Every time they told me you were dating, I wanted to punch something. Then I felt guilty because I wanted you to be happy. But the thought of you being happy with someone else....”
Narrowing her eyes, she points her fork at me. “You’ve been sending me negative vibes all these years.”
“I wouldn’t call it that.”
“Hmm, you’re right. Pining is the word.”
“You’re enjoying this immensely, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been pining for you this entire time. It’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one.”
She presses her lips together, as if she fears she’s said too much. She didn’t use to have a filter with me or feel the need to be careful. But right now, she’s peeking at me from behind her guard, not quite ready to lower it. I’m not there yet either, but I want to meet her halfway on this one.
“You weren’t the only one. Not by a long shot.”
She smiles that ridiculously beautiful smile, and fuck if I don’t want to get her out of here, take her home, show her all the ways in which I missed her. But she needs to eat first.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
She sighs, eying my plate. “Can I take a bite of your paella?”
“Sure.”
She takes a spoonful from my plate, chewing slowly, nodding in satisfaction. “Yours is tastier. I should’ve ordered the one with chicken too.”
“Wanna trade?”
She tilts her head, considering this. “No. Stealing from your plate is more fun.”
“That’s my line.”
“Stole it too.”
I laugh, moving the plate out of her reach. “Whatcha gonna do now, Ms. Tease?”
Caroline looks between the plate and me as she taps her fingers on the table. I’m so busy anticipating her next move over the table that I pay no attention to her shenanigans under the table. Right until I feel her bare foot move suggestively up and down my calf. Fuck me.
