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I grunt and stretch out on the couch. “Hey, I have an idea. How about we skip to the part where I called you because I already knew this crap?”
Nash throws up his hands but calms down after a few more seconds of aggressive pacing. “Fine. What about Jarvis? What does he know about you and Larinda?”
“Not much,” I say.
“From what I saw, that hostility was personal. He must at least suspect you have feelings for her.”
“Okay, yeah. So, that.”
“Val!” Paige cries.
“What? Fine. He probably more than suspects it. He’s done everything he can to make my life miserable since we rolled out.”
“Dude, Jarvis is the last person you want to go head-to-head with,” Nash says. “He’s a huge name with limitless resources.”
“He’s got Sandeke Telecom backing him, for heaven’s sake!” Paige adds.
“Yep.”
“He has a million reasons to want to crush you,” Nash says. “And a million ways to do it.”
Guess we’re back to listing things I already know. Definitely not telling them I can recite the capitals of every country in Europe. We’ll be here all day.
“I understand all of this, believe me. The question is, what do we do about it?”
They exchange a look.
“No effing clue, dude,” Nash says, shaking his head.
“Great. Well, this has been productive.” I push up from the couch. “Want anything to drink?”
They’re silent as I help myself to a bottle of water from the fridge.
“No, thanks,” Paige mumbles in her capitulation voice, so yay for that. “You think Larinda would mind if I look around?”
“Not at all. Just don’t move anything.”
“Of course not.”
Paige takes off to explore, which feels like a win until it leaves me alone with Nash. Does he have a capitulation voice? Let’s hope so.
“Look, man. I get it. I do. I saw the chemistry you two had since day one, but, dude. This is bigger than some fling. You understand that, right? Even if you find a way out of this Jarvis engagement mess, what’s your future? I love Larinda. You know that, but that woman goes through boyfriends like her flavored almonds. I don’t doubt she has a crush on you, but that shit means something different to people at her level than people like us.”
I lower my gaze, my heart crumbling into my stomach like the world’s worst almond flavor.
“Believe me, I know all that as well,” I mutter. “I’m nobody and she’s…”
“Hey, that’s not what I’m saying. You’re a great guy. If anyone deserves someone like Larinda it’s you. It’s just, she lives in a different world. I’m not saying she’s lying to you about her feelings. I’m sure she’s being sincere. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
Way too late for that.
“I know, okay? Honestly, you’re probably right. She’ll get sick of me and?—”
“Um, guys?” Paige calls from another room. “You should see this.”
“See what?” I shout back.
“It’s in Larinda’s room. You told me not to touch anything, so you need to come look.”
