Page 53 of Say It Again

I get that you’re officially done with me. His voice shook and his heart splintered all over as he read Aaron’s text. This is the last time I’ll reach out. It was wonderful getting to know you, Daniel Greene. From the bottom of my heart, I’m so sorry I hurt you.

Olivia pressed a hand over her heart as her lips pinched together and her eyes saddened with sympathy.

“I know,” Daniel sighed. “You don’t need to say it.”

“He’s just so—”

“Sweet? Kind? Incredible?” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I said you don’t need to say it.”

“I don’t see why you’re not even going to try,” Olivia said. “I’ve never seen you pine so dramatically over a boy.”

He scoffed. “I’m not pining.”

“You are piiiiiining over that boy, and hey, I’d be pining too. First, he saves you from that dumpster fire of a relationship you were in—”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“—with a magical bathroom kiss. Then he saves you from your dildo of a dad, all while making you adore every minute you spend with him to the point that you’re all swimmy around the studio and the students think you’re high on edibles.”

“Wait, did someone say that?”

“And did he not almost kill you in bed with his extreme sexiness?”

“Oh God. Don’t make me think of that. He’s all Every last drop, sweet boy. That sound good? And I’m like, yes, sir, Lucifer. Welcome to my orgasm.”

“Exactly. And now you cannot stop thinking about him.”

“But—”

“But he’s an escort. Okay, trust me, baby, you’ve dated worse. Shall we review some of the dudes you’ve dated? Would a little trip down memory lane help?”

He blinked, suddenly twitching with an urge to flee the premises. “That’s really unnecessary.”

“Remember the guy with the rock candy fetish?”

He scrunched his face. “Yeah. That hurt my teeth.”

“Remember the guy who said you have the kind of face that ‘probably won’t age well’?”

“I do.” He plopped back down. “What a bitch.”

“You remember the professional hockey player—”

“Okay, I think you’ve made your point—”

“—who pretended you didn’t exist when you ran into him at that taco truck?”

He glared. “In his defense, he was with his teammates.”

“Oh, the same two teammates that wanted to run a train on you?”

“Jesus, Olivia! Language!”

“And what does your ‘boyfriend’ do?” More air quotes. “He just gives them your number.”

He hung his head.

“And God help me, Daniel, you kept seeing him after that.”

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