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“That’s how you stay so slim!” Jake said, diverting his gaze to Francesca.
“Why, thank you, Jake. At least someone appreciates me.” She tilted her head down toward Connor.
Maybe they weren’t sleeping together after all. I ignored the fizzle in my belly.
“I’ll have—”
“Ladies first, Jake,” Connor interjected in a stern but friendly tone.
Jake grimaced. “Of course. Pepper, what are you having?”
“I’ll have the creamy pappardelle with extra parmesan.”
Francesca giggled. “Aren’t you worried about calories?”
The server glanced down at me and widened her eyes.
“Not at all,” I admitted.
“Excellent choice.” The server smiled. “The homemade pappardelle is our specialty.”
“‘I’ll have the steak well done, no sauce, no onions,” Jake said.
“Are you writing this down somewhere?”
“It’s all up here.” The server pointed to her head.
“Huh.” Francesca slid her hand onto Connor’s thigh and momentarily saw him wince at the contact.
“Steak rare with all the sides.”
“Well, you’re both hungry, aren’t you?” Francesca giggled.
In more ways than one.
Connor glanced at me before putting his hand behind her shoulders.
The server retreated but not before throwing me a so-sorry-for-suggesting-you-join-tablesstare.
I smiled,think nothing of it.But really, I didn’t want to be here, especially pretending to be in this perfect loved-up relationship when it felt like anything but.
Especially when Connor’s touch did things to me that Jake hadn’t in the year we were together.
* * *
“How’s your salad?” I asked Francesca after I watched her pick out the cheese and just eat the greens. Hell, I was starving just looking at her.
“So, how long have you guys been together?” Francesca just ignored her like she hadn’t spoken.
“Ten months,” Jake said, leaning over to kiss me. His lips hastily brushed mine in the first kiss we’d had on the mouth in a long time. Pity it had to be like this—for show.
“It’s actually closer to thirteen months, but who’s counting,” I said, taking the napkin to my mouth. When I glanced up at Connor, I was desperately seeking a reaction to the kiss. What I wasn’t expecting was a fire in his eyes that burned angrily behind his blue eyes.
Was he jealous of Jake? Surely not. He had royalty next to him. Francesca put her hand on his thigh, stroking it back and forth under the table. She did nothing to hide her movements.
The idea of these two in bed made me nearly physically ill. I looked down at my half-eaten creamy pasta, suddenly feeling unwell.
“Excuse me,” I said, pulling out my chair.
