Page 70 of Beautiful Exile

Me

I haven’t seen him much lately. But your house is still standing.

All of that was true. But it still felt like a giant lie.

Fallon

Surprising you haven’t seen him. You two seemed pretty tight at dinner last week.

Rhodes

Agreed. Lolli might’ve slipped and said she saw you two more than a little…close.

Texts came through in rapid-fire succession.

Cope

What does she mean, close?

Shep

Is he hitting on you?

Trace

I can get you a restraining order.

Kye

Get yourself some, Little Killer!

The fact that I knew Trace was only half-kidding had me groaning and my fingers flying across the screen.

Me

Retract all claws and weapons please. My virtue is safe. You know Lolli sees sex everywhere.

Shep

Even in gourds. I’m reminded every time I walk into the greenhouse and see that damned diamond painting.

That had me stifling a giggle. Poor, by-the-book Shep having a penis gourd painting in his and Thea’s greenhouse brought me more joy than it should’ve.

Cope

Just tell me if you need me to have a word.

Me

Perfectly capable of speaking for myself.

Kye

And wielding knives.

True enough.

Glancing at the time in the upper lefthand corner of my phone, I cursed. I was going to be late if I didn’t move. Locking the device, I shoved it into the pocket of my shorts and quickly put away my supplies.

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