Page 68 of Not Dating Material

My mouth falls open as I stare at him for a second, and then I grab my phone and open my messages.

Seven:

Meet at Kygaros at seven?

I hold it up and show him, and he gets the most adorable scrunched look on his face.

“I didn’t send that.”

“It’s from your phone.”

He smirks and grabs his, then shows me the exact same message … from me.

“What?”

“I think we’ve been played.”

“But … what?”

Seven chuckles, deep and warm. “If I’m going to guess … Xander.”

“Xander? But why?”

“He thinks he’s Cupid.”

“But how did he get my phone? And your phone? And why? We were already planning another date.”

“If you haven’t worked it out by now, Xander is a nosy little bug head who will do what he wants, when he wants, and literally nothing we say will deter him.”

“Deter him from what?”

“Setting us up, obviously.”

My face twitches as I struggle to keep it straight. “I guess you didn’t tell him about last week?”

“No one needs to know about last week.”

“Agreed.” Because I know about last week, and I don’t want people to know how heart-eyed I’ve gotten over him since then. Not until it happens again. Hopefully again.

“That little turd …” Seven mutters.

And while I’d love to keep sitting here and playing date night, Seven looks about as comfortable in this restaurant as I’d feel watching … like … my dad and Will getting it on.

Urg. No, thank you.

I shove to my feet and round the table, then pull Seven out of his chair.

“Ahh … what are you doing?”

“We’re going to have some fun.”

“I’m scared.”

“Of this innocent face?” I tilt my hands under my chin, and he exhales loudly.

“Now I’m doubly scared.”

I wave down the waiter and give him my card to cover our drinks. My mind is whirling while we wait for him to get back, but the second the card is in my hand, I’m all but rushing out of there.

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