Page 27 of Graves

“Or you could let me take you out,” I suggest.

“Out? Where?” she asks.

“Anywhere you want. We could do dinner or something else. I just want an excuse to show you off,” I say with a small smirk.

“Well, as long as it’s a ploy to boost your insufferable ego and nothing serious like enjoying my company,” she teases.

I roll my eyes but chuckle, nonetheless.

“I’d love to. What time?” she asks.

“Seven?”

“It’s a date.”

“Fuck yes, it is,” I say before grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her lips to mine.

She melts against me, her tongue darting out to stroke against my own. I grip her tightly, so tight I fear I might shatter her. My control shakes, and I do my best to breathe through it, reminding myself that I can’t lose control with her, I’d never forgive myself.

I pull away quickly, resting my forehead against hers as I take deep, even breaths. When my pulse returns to a regular pace, I open my eyes to see her already watching me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Definitely.”

Chapter Thirteen

BLAKE

I’m going through my closet, pulling out my top two dress picks before I turn to face Gabby. As soon as I told her I was going on a date with Dom, she insisted on coming over, stating I couldn’t pick a proper date outfit alone which was kind of insulting, but one hundred percent Gabby. I know she can be a lot sometimes, and she’s definitely a friend you need in doses, but she’s really all I have in this life, or at least all that’s left.

“Okay, what do you like better?” I ask Gabby.

She glances up from her phone andsmirks.

“They’re both black, babe.”

“Yeah, so?”

She shakes her head as she tosses her phone down.

“That one,” she says, pointing to the off-the-shoulder black lace cocktail dress that hugs everything just right.

“Perfect.” I smile as I slip it on, pairing it with a pair of black pumps.

My hair is already curled, but I run my fingers through it to give it a more relaxed look before I finish swiping on my red lipstick. Normally I don’t care about makeup or dresses, honestly, but Dom is taking us to the nicest seafood restaurant in town. The waitlist is usually something crazy, like a year, no clue how he got reservations, but I’m not complaining!

My phone buzzes on the dresser, and I grab it quickly, disappointment fluttering in my chest when I see that it isn’t Dom, it’s just Christian.

Christian: Where are you guys going to dinner?

I scrunch my face at that. Why is he texting me, and why does he want to know about where we are going?

“Why is Christian texting me?” I ask.

Gabby looks up with an unimpressed eyebrow.

“How should I know?”

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