Page 46 of Make Her Mine

“Yes, let’s do that,” Ginny says, laughing.

This all catches Phoebe’s attention.

“You’re not going back to your place, are you?” she asks Harlow.

Harlow leans forward slightly to look down the table. “Well, yeah. I didn’t think we were partying here until the wee hours.”

Phoebe shakes her head. “You have to stay at Jefferson’s this week.”

I feel Harlow tense under my hand. “What? No way.”

Phoebe drops her voice, making it softer. “You’re supposed to be dating,”

“I don’t have to be at his place every night.” Harlow glances at me.

“Of course you do,” Phoebe insists.

“Why?” Harlow asks.

I snort.

Harlow looks at me, eyebrows arched.

“Well, you wouldn’t be just having quickies in the truck or even at his house and then leaving,” Phoebe says.

Harlow chokes. I grin.

“Serious girlfriends stay all night,” Joe agrees.

“Maybe we’re not that serious,” Harlow insists.

“You would be,” my mom says. “We talked about this. It wouldn’t take long.”

“So everyone is just assuming we’d already be sleeping together?” Harlow asks, keeping her voice down but clearly a little outraged.

That’s hilarious.

“Obviously,” I say.

She swings to look at me again. “What?”

I shrug. “If we were dating, we would definitely be sleeping together. Sooner versus later.”

She narrows her eyes. “Not necessarily. I might not want to.”

I squeeze her neck. “You would want to.”

I’m gratified when her gaze drops to my lips before bouncing back to meet my eyes.

I just grin.

“Some people—” Phoebe tips her head in Zach’s direction. “—need to think you are.”

Harlow lets out a breath. “Every night?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say as Phoebe answers, “Definitely. The two of you would be together constantly.”

I feel the tension leave Harlow’s body, but it feels less like relaxation or relief and more like defeated resignation.

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