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"Of course, Mr. Layne," the madam said smoothly. "Please keep me in mind for referrals for your friends. As you know, I have the best girls."
"Will do," I said, relieved that she no longer had the very best girl.
Now I just had to make her mine.
Chapter Twenty-Three
AVERY
Just as I was about to crack open another bottle of wine, Chase sent me a text.
CHASE: Get dressed for dinner. Picking you up in an hour.
AVERY: You don't even know where my apartment is!
CHASE: Chase is wise. He knows all.
Even though he acted like a fuckwad yesterday.
AVERY: I'm not up for dinner.
CHASE: Do you have plans with your real boyfriend?
AVERY: Just stop.
CHASE: I'll be there in an hour. I'll carry you to the restaurant if I have to. So you better get dressed, because you're going out either way.
I sighed and obediently threw on a dress, my emotions see-sawing. I didn't know what to expect. Was he going to say he was sorry? Was he going to tell me it was over, once and for all?
I felt as though I might throw up.
Precisely one hour later, a large SUV pulled up in front of my building.
"Hey," I said, as Chase got out to open the door for me. He looked dashing in a dark suit.
"Hey," he said, softly. His eyes were red and puffy, as if he'd been crying.
I wanted to reach out and pull him to me, but I didn't dare.
We slid into the back of the car in an awkward silence as the driver pulled down the street.
"How have you been?" he asked.
I shrugged in answer, afraid my voice would wobble.
"Am I taking you away from other plans? With you-know-who?" he asked.
I shot him a dirty look. I clearly sucked at lying.
"I didn't think so." Seemingly satisfied, he turned and looked out the window. "We're meeting another couple for dinner."
"Huh?" I asked, surprised. Company was the last thing I wanted right now.
"It's my friend Cole Bryson and his wife. He owns the Rhode Island Thunder. It's a Bruins farm team. Have you ever heard of him?"
I shook my head. "No. Why are we meeting him for dinner?"
"I want you to meet Cole's wife. I thought it would be good for you."
