Page 56 of Hide and Keep

Paris tilts her head. “I’m sorry, okay?” She doesn’t sound sorry. “It was—”

Ever singsongs, “Major, can you escort me to the café?”

My head on a swivel, I’m scanning every face around us. Who the fuck is Major?

But when I return my gaze to Ever, she’s blinking at me expectantly. Me? I’m Major?

“Sure…right this way, miss.” I lead her away from Paris with a mumbled, “Excuse us.”

What the fuck is happening? First, Ever is nice to me. Now, she’s calling me Major and asking me to escort her somewhere.

“For the record, I’m not a major,” I tell her once we’re clear of her friend. “I didn’t even serve.”

Ever keeps her eyes straight ahead. “I thought I read that most executive protection agents were soldiers.”

I don’t remember that being on my phone’s screen this morning. Did she read that somewhere else?

“Are you sure it’s not because you want your friends to think I’m more qualified than I am?”

With a scoff, she peeks at me out of the corner of her eye. “Those aren’t my friends.”

“What are they?”

“Clones.”

They certainly try to be. None of them come close though. Even dressed alike, Ever stands out among her clones.

Getting in line, we study the menu.

“It’s my treat, so get whatever you want.”

When I side-eye my protectee, I find her grinning at me and feel myself return it. Three years of this won’t be so bad.

What’s got her so happy?

“Did you catch some dick in a broom closet or something?”

“Not a broom closet, no. My professor prefers we use his office.”

There goes my good mood.

And my plans to let Ever attend her classes without me.

“You better be fucking with me,” I grit, but she only shrugs innocently.

We don’t speak again until we reach the front of the line.

The cashier is already talking when we step up, his gaze locked on the tablet on the counter. “One unsweetened matcha lemonade… And what can I get you?”

I wait for Ever to speak, but the cashier looks up at me.

“What would you like?”

“She’s first—”

“I already got her usual,” he says.

Must be good then. If the queen orders it.

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