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are coming over to hang out at our place.”
    What?
    A year ago, I would have promised my first born to have Jake come hang out at our place. In the couple of times that he’s come to town in the last year, I’ve done my best to make myself scarce.
    The last time, I took time off from work and went to Arizona. At the time, Reilly thought I was crazy. She didn’t believe me when I told her my trip had been planned for ages and it must have slipped my mind to tell her about it.
    “Bullshit,” she had said.
    She was right.
    “Fun,” I murmur, halfheartedly.
    No one remarks on my lack of enthusiasm. After we finish eating Jake and Heath argue over who will pay. Reilly annoys both of them by slipping off “to go to the bathroom” and pays for all of us herself.
    She’s sneaky like that.
    Heading home, Heath and I walk in front of Jake and Reilly. I only looked back at Jake once, right when Heath decided to drape his arm across my shoulders to tuck me into his side.
    The gesture should make me feel desired and special. Instead, Jake being witness to it makes it feel like the lie it is.
    If only he would leave. Before he got here, I had convinced myself this thing with Heath and I could work. Now my brain is all jumbled and I can’t think straight. Why does he have to ruin everything?
    “Want to come in for a bit?” I quietly ask Heath.
    He hesitates before shaking his head. “It’s Jake’s first night here. It’d be a dick move to make him go back to my place alone.”
    “He can hang out with Reilly,” I argue.
    “Did I hear my name?” Reilly asks from behind us.
    Darn her and her sensitive ears.
    “Kacey asked if I wanted to come up but I didn’t want to ditch Jake. She said he could hang out with you.”
    “Nope,” she quickly replies. “I have to go to the station to do some editing on a story I’m working on.”
    Stopping in my tracks, I turn to face her. “You never go to the station at this time of day unless you’re covering for someone.”
    The little liar shrugs. “Yeah, I do. Why can’t Jake come hang out with both of you?”
    My mouth drops open but Heath is the one to reply. “Works for me.”
    Jake’s eyes are on me when he says, “Sounds like a plan.”
    If I said no at this point, they’d all think I was rude. Pressing my lips together, and plastering what I hope is a serene expression across my face, I nod. Pivoting, I turn my back to them and start walking again. I can only hope no one on the street notices my mask briefly fall to show the panic I truly feel.
    Riley walks up with us so she can grab her car keys since the station isn’t within walking distance. With my eyes, I plead with her to stay.
    She cringes and mouths, “Sorry,” before closing the door behind herself. That’s it; I’m interviewing candidates for a new best friend tomorrow after I murder her in her sleep tonight.
    My inner hostess comes through. ”Would either of you like a drink?”
    “Got any beer?” Jake asks.
    Heath laughs, making me blush. Even though I have zero tolerance, I’m a total beer snob. It’s not about quantity for me; it’s about quality. I like to try out new beers and find the perfect meal to pair them with. My current favorite is a Coffee Stout. This drives Reilly nuts because I don’t drink real coffee but I’ll drink a coffee beer.
    “What are you in the mood for?” I ask Jake with a smirk.
    He settles himself on our couch, stretching his arm across the back of it. “Surprise me.”
    Blushing, I hold his eyes and gesture towards the kitchen. “Why don’t you go look for yourself?”
    He drops his hand from the back of the couch and rests it on his thigh as he unfolds from his seated position. Since I was still standing while he sat, I forgot how big he was.
    Now my attention solely on him, his presence seems to dwarf everything and everyone else in the room. With an unhurried stride, he moves into our kitchen.
    Will our stocked fridge surprise him? Biting the inside of