Page 71 of Liar's Point

“No, thanks.”

He stepped into the kitchen. Nicole had never been good at accepting apologies. She was so competitive all the time, especially with him.

His phone buzzed on the coffee table. He couldn’t see the screen, but she leaned over to look at it.

“A pineapple is calling you.”

He walked over and sent the call to voicemail, then sat down next to her again.

“You don’t want to get that?”

“No.”

“Sorry but have to ask.” She smirked. “Why the pineapple avatar?”

“I don’t know. She put that in there.” He flipped his phone over.

Nicole lifted an eyebrow and looked at the game.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She set her plate on the table and checked her watch. “You know, I should probably go.”

She started to get up, and he put his hand on her knee. “Eat. What’s the rush?”

“I don’t want to keep you from your booty call.”

“You’re not,” he said, getting annoyed. He started on the second slice of pizza. “Anyway, how’s David doing?”

She tensed. “Why?”

“Just asking.”

“I guess he’s good.” She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I haven’t seen him in a week and a half. Well, outside of work, that is.”

Emmet watched her, trying to read her expression. “Why haven’t you seen him?”

“Because. He cancels about fifty percent of our plans.” She lifted a shoulder like it was no big deal, but it clearly bothered her. “Anyway, we’re supposed to have dinner tomorrow at Angelo’s, so...”

He waited for her to complete the thought. She didn’t.

“Sounds fancy,” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. “So, what’s the problem?”

Another shrug. “I don’t know. We’ll see if it happens. I’m slammed, too, right now. This job isn’t exactly great for my social life.” She wiped her hands on her jeans. “But that’s what I signed up for, right? I knew this job was a liability. No big surprise there.”

“It’s not that bad.”

She scoffed. “Not if you’re you.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He leaned closer, forcing her to make eye contact. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just different for the rest of you.”

“Rest of you...?”

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