Page 97 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

I blame the protein powder fumes

I try not to imagine Ariana in sequins. Or anything else Lily might have packed that may be lacy. Or silky.

Or see-through.

“Yo, Reeves!” Alex waves the color swatches. “You should be good to go. I know you’ve got IPO shit to untangle.”

The IPO.

“Yeah.” I nod.” Of course.”

I get up to leave, nodding to the guys.

"But we haven't discussed the coordinated dance routine,” Grayson calls after me.

"Let him go," I hear Callum say as I exit. "Our boy's got it bad. “I will say this…” His voice carries that lethal amusement that means trouble, "Monaco should be interesting."

I flip them off as I hit the door.

Just as my phone lights up one final time:

ARIANA: One more thing

About last night

I need to tell you something

But not over text

Can we talk? In Monaco?

I stare at the screen, already having an answer.

ME: Yes

24

MONACO OR BUST (MOSTLY BUST)

ARIANA

The thing about telling a hard truth is that it’s even harder when the weather is so freaking nice.

I think I made that up. But it feels true.

Especially now.

Monaco in spring is that it’s almost too beautiful—like the kind of beauty you can’t quite believe is real.

The early May air is warmer than usual and infused with the salty sweetness of the Mediterranean breeze—the kind that carries the scent of fresh jasmine and sea salt right under your nose. The sun sinks into the horizon, painting the sky in hues of violet and orange.

Which makes it really hard to convince yourself to tell your not-exactly-ex-husband that you’ve been lying to his face since the day you met him—literally.

In the heated pool of Callum Abernathy’s villa, Connor’s even strokes only emphasize how frayed my nerves really are.

He slices through the cool blue water with effortless power, every stroke precise, every movement damn near perfect.

The water clings to his skin, droplets catching the last of thesun’s light. His dark blond hair is streaked with silver at the temples, slicked back from his sharp, chiseled features as he penetrates each gentle, calming wave.

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