Page 25 of Every Move You Make

Her only answer is a nod against my chest.

“Come with me,” I say. “Let’s go find somewhere quiet to talk.”

There’s a small patio out back, and as soon as we step out, the cool summer evening washes over us.

“Please tell me the truth. Are you okay?”

“Do you know Isaiah?”

“Yeah,” I say, furrowing my brow.

“How?”

“He’s my client.”

“Oh,” she drawls. “Oh!”

“How do you know him?”

“He’s literally the reason we’re here right now. He’s…he’s the guy I’m trying to get.”

No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Isaiah ismylittle crush. We had established a timeline for his sessions—three months—and then he’d be on his own and I could finally askhim out. That Big Rugby Daddy teddy bear is supposed to be mine.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Robyn says, pushing her hands into her face.

“Of Isaiah?”

“No, of course not. Of this whole situation. I knew he worked in security around here, but I didn’t know it was here. I’m embarrassed that I made a scene.”

“Hey, no,” I say, bending at the knees. I move her hands away from her face and look into her sad hazel eyes. “You didn’t make a scene. None of that was your fault, do you hear me?” She nods once, but the urge to comfort her doesn’t diminish. Hugging her close, her arms constrict around my middle. And maybe, selfishly, I want to use her as comfort for myself. “Let’s take you home, hun.”

The ride to her place is quiet. Normally, I’d be geeked to show off my Audi R8 to someone like Robyn, but it feels wrong here. So I hold her hand in her lap between shifting gears and hope like hell I haven’t ruined anything.

I’m gonna take the hit and back out.

Robyn wants Isaiah.

Isaiah would be crazy not to date her.

Tonight was about helping Robyn gain confidence so she could make her move, but somewhere in the evening, I lost the plot. I tried to become the main character in a love story that’s not mine.

1.Dip It Lowby Ofenbach & Fabich

Chapter 11

Bubble Butt

Isaiah

It’s half past ten when my alarm goes off, but I’ve been awake for the last hour thanks to some texts from Robyn. I should have expected as much.

Hey. I didn’t realize you worked at ChaCha’s.

Can we talk?

I haven’t responded yet, and I don’t know if I’m going to. She’s going to tell me how she and Dell are a thing, or how pissed she is that I ruined her night, and I can’t take that.

Because I’m a fucking coward.

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