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“I was kidding,” she said with a smile that did nothing to assure me she wouldn’t show up at some point tonight. “But I want details of your monkey sex tomorrow.”
I was sure my face was as red as my hair since Amber had decided to include a bunch of strangers in on our conversation, but found myself laughing because it was all so Amber and I didn’t know how to be mad at her.
Still, I said, “Sometimes, I really want to punch you.”
She blew a kiss at me. “You love me.”
“I do,” I said as if loving her was a chore. “Seriously, get some sleep. You look like the crypt keeper.”
Amber’s head tipped back when she laughed. “Ah, you bitch. I love you too.”
I hurried out of the shop, avoiding the curious and judgmental stares as I did, but felt my smile widen as I reached my car. For as much as I’d tried guarding myself against falling even deeper, from letting myself believe things with Connor could be something they weren’t, Amber was right.
I was happy.
He made me happy.
And I was so completely fucked because each night with him had me craving more. More time, more of him, just more. And I’d never wanted more with anyone. I’d never cared when days or weeks had passed without seeing or hearing from Bryce, but a night without Connor had been surprisingly lonely and agonizingly long.
Just need to make it to this evening, I told myself as I slipped behind the wheel and started my car. I could do that. I could get through the workday, knowing he’d be waiting when I got home.
But then I arrived at work just as a text came through from Connor, letting me know he didn’t think he would beat me back today, if he made it home at all. Disappointment dipped in my chest so swift and great that it stole my next breath as I studied the message before sending a restrained reply.
Locking my phone, I gripped it in my hands and struggled to school my expression before leaving my car. But by the time I walked into my office, that disappointment had grown and was consuming every thought.
I could’ve walked right past my brothers and never known.
Wholly, undeniably fucked.
* * *
Seven hours, thirty-six games of Minesweeper, and twenty games of solitaire later, I’d gotten all cozy in my desk chair to read the rest of the day away, but I was distracted.
Connor had texted a little while before saying things had shifted, and he was hoping to leave soon, but I knew that could change. Even if it didn’t, I was sure he’d want to crash as soon as he got home, and I didn’t blame him.
Still, I’d been anxiously waiting for another message ever since.
“What’s this?”
I flung my legs off the desk and reached wildly for the Kindle that had just been ripped out of my hands, nearly tipping my chair backward as I did. “Give it back, Kota.”
“And his throbbing member—”
“Ew, you know it doesn’t say that. Give it back.”
He tossed my Kindle on the desk and sat down next to it. “What’s up, brat?”
I reached for my e-reader, but he slapped my hands away. Shooting him an irritated look, I asked, “What do you want?”
“What? I can’t check on my favorite sister?” he asked with a charming grin that I didn’t buy for a second.
“I’m your only sister, asshole. And considering you only come up here to piss me off...no. You can’t.”
“I’m offended.” He grabbed at his chest dramatically. “I’m being nice and you’re being hurtful for no reason.”
“What do you want, Dakota?” I repeated as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Need to know if you took care of the setup for the new clients we got this week,” he said with a coolness I saw right through.
