Page 50 of Not Safe For Work

She’s right. I could have handled that better. Why isn’t there a guru for situations like this? Maybe I need a life coach.

“How does he think it’s okay to send you those texts?” Andie asks, quiet rage seeping through her lips.

“Because he’s a man?” And a rich and powerful one at that. She “tsks” in silent agreement.

“I know you’re worried about closing this deal,” she continues. “But this is getting creepy. You should tell Mitch.”

“No way. He’ll take it away from me for sure.”

Our oysters come and we both demolish a few in silence. There is truly nothing better on a Friday afternoon than sitting on the rooftop patio at B Bar, slurping oysters and rosè. Even if we are dissecting the mess of my life.

“There will always be other deals, Liv.”

“Not for me. Not like this. I really don’t think there will be. If I lose it, that proves to Mitch that I’m not ready, and if I start somewhere new, it’ll be at least another year in the trenches before I’m given a shot like this.”

She looks like she’s about to say something else when my phone chimes with another text. It’s a picture from Gavin and Andie opens it immediately. I don’t know why I hold my breath. Of course, it’s just a photo of Churro. Well, technically it’s Churro balancing on top of Gavin’s head. Its fucking adorable and makes me want to kiss the smirk right off his perfect face.

Gavin Scott:

We needle you to join us for game night. Hedge over whenever you’re free

I can’t stop from grinning. He’s so wholesome. Why is he the one I’m always fantasizing about at night when Tristan is practically sexting me?

“Oh my god!” Andie squeals. “You love him. I knew it!”

“You knew nothing,” I argue, taking my phone back. “We’re just friends.”

“Since when?”

“Since now.”

I quickly fill her in on Saturday since in her mind, Gavin and I haven’t actually hung out before, minus the off-site.

“You met Lucy Gold? We’ve been talking about these stupid men for an hour andnowyou tell me the most important thing I missed last weekend?”

“I’m sorry, truly. I shouldn’t gate-keep. She was exactly what you’d imagine, maybe cooler. She even invited me to come visit her in LA.”

I almost forgot that Andie was the one who introduced me to Lucy’s books. Andie isn’t a fan of open-door romance like I am, but she is a YA Romantasy fiend; I think Lucy’s titleSleeping Darlingsis her favorite book ever. Her copy has about a thousand tabs in it.

“I’m never going out of town again.” She sighs, her lips forming a dramatic pout. “I missed so much.”

Shit. I haven’t even told her the biggest piece of news.

“Well, before we head out, there’s one more thing,” I say.

“Really?”

“Yep. I’m coming with you to Mexico.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

GAVIN

“Gav!”Gabby yells from the kitchen. “Your phone’s ringing.”

“Can you answer it for me?” I yell back. “I just got out of the shower.”

“Nope! It’s your fake girlfriend who you wish was your real girlfriend who I still think will definitely break your heart again if you?—”

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