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I'm disappointed. Didn't I tell you to get rid of him?
I'm halfway done to typing'go to hell'when my phone vibrates in my hand with a series of incoming texts.
But since you haven't...
There's a smirking emoji at the end of his text, and I know right away what it means. The royal SOB is about to blackmail me again, and his next message proves me right.
This is the boy's number, is it not?
Shit, shit, shit.
Shall I text him...or shall we play a little game instead?
"Seven?"
Hal's concerned tone is another slap in the face. I actually forgot all about him.Again!
Guilt eats me alive as I look back at him. "I'm sorry, Hal. I know this is going to make me sound like the biggest bitch in the world, and I know you'll have every reason to hate me for this—-"
Hal raises his hand, and I quickly shut up, since said hand also happens to be holding a steak knife. Is it just me...or is this day suddenly populated by men wielding all sorts of murder weapons in my face?
"Can we just think about tonight as two friends having dinner?"
"Um..."
"I get what you're saying, believe me. But I'd rather not hear it, too. Just know that I get it."
Aaaaargh.
Hal is just so perfect, dammit. Why won't my heart skip a beat for him instead of His Royal Assness?
Hal offers his hand. "Deal?"
I force myself to smile back as I shake his hand. "Deal."
Just as Hal asks if I want wine to go with our steaks, my phone vibrates with another message.
Choose now, Seven. I don't like being kept waiting.
I put my phone back in my purse and shake my head at Hal. "Water's fine. I'm not much of a drinker."
"Totally fine," Hal readily assures me, "since I'm no heavy drinker myself—-" Hal stops speaking when his phone starts to ring, and my eyes widen when I see an unlisted number flash in his screen.
Shit, shit, shit.
That can only be Sheikh Saif. Can't it?
Hal frowns. "I wonder if it's from work."
Panic makes me move in lightning speed, and Hal is left blinking at me in surprise when I swipe his phone out of his hand just to the call.
"It's a virus," I explain lamely as I hand his phone back to him. "I had a call just like it before."
Hal shakes his head. "Seriously? I know about viruses in text messages and emails, but phone calls?"
"Yeah, well, um, you know the Internet." I change the subject right after, asking brightly, "So, shall we dig in...friend?"
Hal grins. "Yes, we shall...friend."
