Page 75 of Love You, Mean It

“Yeah, I guess hearing that she’s got this whole, like…creativecareerlit a fire under me.”

“I always liked Jenna. Now I like her even more. Is she back in Milborough? You two should get together.”

“Maybe. It was just one conversation.” An unexpected wave of nerves rolled through me. What was I going to do, call her up for a blind friend date? “AtBelle Glen. Proof positive that we don’t have much in common.”

“You can’t know that without ever hanging out,” Bella said evenly. I shrugged, and she rolled her eyes, dropping the point. “What about broccoli salad for tonight? I think Mimi’s going with gnocchi, we should probably get a vegetable in somewhere.”

We’d just managed to pack everything away when my phone pinged on the counter.

FROM: Little Lord Doucheleroy

last minute but are you around Thursday night?

I think so. Why, what’s up?

Dinner with the board

Mostly ironing out Sam’s role rn but I think we’ll switch over to Mangia by then

Aunt Cheryl flew back from Turks & Caicos for the meetings

Aunt Cheryl? Turks and CAICOS? This must be serious

If you knew Cheryl you’d realize that’s not a joke

Having you there won’t decide anything but it can’t hurt

Plus it’s a good excuse to ask you to dress up for me

My cheeks heated.

I think I can squeeze you in if you ask REALLY nicely

Forget the ask what if I promise an incredible afterparty at my place?

Very exclusive guest list. You’re the only person on it actually

Warmth pooled between my legs.

But Sam.

She’d be at the dinner. I couldnotrisk another fiasco like the tennis game; Sam might have blamed herself, but she was way too smart not to spot the pattern if it happened a second time.

But actually…maybe this was the safest version of seeing Theo. She’d be there, a constant reminder to behave, and the board’s presence would mean that even if Theo wanted to play up the so-in-love-fiancés angle, he couldn’t gotoofar. Besides, until Mangia was officially off the table, I had to keep up the appearance of our engagement. Ted was suspicious enough of it.

Count me in for dinner

The rest we can negotiate

I love when you talk dirty to me

Smirking, I made to slip the phone into my back pocket…and finally noticed Bella standing just behind me, worry written all over her delicate features.

“Did you…read those?”

“I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to,” she said slowly. “Real talk, Ellie, when did this turn into an actualthing?”

“What?” I scoffed, moving past her to grab my coat. Bella was one person I’d never been good at lying to. “You must know how ridiculous that sounds.”

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