Page 105 of Insidious Heart

“Not much time for speed dating?” I give her a small smile as she nods.

“Or any kind of dating. I’ve been so busy lately that Harvey is the only pussy in my apartment getting any kind of attention.” I crack up at that and Linnie does too. “I’m serious! It’s been so long since I’ve gotten any action and it’s making me crazy.”

“I bet.”

“Hey, whatever happened with Leon?”

I frown. “Leon?”

“Yeah! The study buddy thatwasn’ta date.”

Oh. “We, uh… it was… we’re—”

“Oh my god, Stevie, you’redatinghim, aren’t you?”

“No?” My cheeks heat as I blink wide eyes at her. “I’m not dating anyone right now.”

Linnie turns her body toward me, the smile on her face gossip hungry. “But you slept together, didn’t you? Your study session totally turned into a one night stand, didn’t it?”

If I blush any harder I’m going to catch fire.

Ha.

I never expected my fake study partner to come up again, to be totally honest, and even though I don’t know anyone with that name and never have, I can’t help but think about Victor and how he’dhatethis conversation.

He doesn’t need to directly say it for me to know that we’re exclusive in whatever it is we’re doing, that I’m sure of, and while he’s been adamant on the way we belong to each other, that isn’t really the same but I still know. Victor Tobias Crow would absolutelyhatethe idea of me even pretending to see someone else in any capacity, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to talk him down from a very literal murderous rage as easily as I did last night.

Which is why my loyalty to a serial killer that’s affiliated with my father’s biggest enemy wins out and I nod, pretending Victor is Leon because why the hell not. “Sort of.”

“Oh my god!” Linnie gasps. “You’re still hooking up with him, aren’t you?”

Another nod.

“Girl, yes!” She holds her hand up for a high five and giggles when I return it. “The entire time I’ve known you, you haveneverhad any kind of male companion. I was starting to think you were a lesbian, which would be totally fine because I’m all about you being you, but even then you’ve never talked about anyone.”

I chuckle a bit as my friend does a little bit of a victory dance on my behalf. “It just sorta happened when I wasn’t expecting it.”Now, that is super true.Victor was a huge surprise I didn’t see coming.

Linnie scoots around and smiles so big. “You have to give me all the details. Leave nothing out. This bitch’s cooch is collecting dust and I need to vicariously live through you for a few minutes.”

“Details?” I swallow hard because I can’t really give her any of those, and even if I could I’ve never had a friend that wanted them, so I don’t know where to begin.

“Yes! Hair color, eye color, smile. Tall or short. Athletic or husky. Dick size. Tell me everything.”

I can’t help but giggle over her excitement for me as I start describing Victor in the most roundabout way possible, sharing what I can without giving anything away. Linnie even manages to get me to share a little about our sex life, and was satisfied when I told her it was very active and beyond fulfilling.

“He probably has an adorable nickname for you, doesn’t he?” My friend sighs as she props her arm on the back of the swing and drops her chin on her hand. “Something sweet that means he wants to be more than friends with benefits but doesn’t know how to ask.”

“He does, actually.” My brow lifts.How did she know that?“It’s really sweet.”

“Bitch,” Linnie says with a smile. “And to answer the question I can see on your face, the way you described your relationship with Leon is why I assumed that.”

Now I’m frowning because I don’t understand that either.

“Come on, Stevie. He’s too good to you for him to not want more, and you’re head over heels for him, too. Probably even have your own cute nickname for him and everything.”

I blink at the eager look on Linnie’s face. Obviously she wants me to tell her what I call him, but Tor is out because it wouldn’t make sense if his name is Leon, and telling her I refer to him asmy ghostwould be super weird. Which is why I blurt the first and only thing that comes to mind. “Gizmo.”

“Gizmo?” Her brow furrows as she lifts her head. “You call your FWB, Gizmo?”

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