Page 109 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘You need a good lawyer.’

Dax nods, giving me a concerned look. ‘Mercy thinks you should sue Tristan.’

‘I know exactly the lawyer to do it too. Sydney! I called her, and she agreed to see you tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?Sydney?’ I ask, shocked at her suggestion. She made an appointment? With Dax’s Sydney? I can’t do that. It’s weird.

‘I uh – I… I…’ I glance to Dax.

‘Hols,’ he says softly. ‘I broke things off with Sydney.’

‘You did?’

‘I did.’

‘What’s happening here?’ Mercy asks, her eyes following our words.

‘Dax and I kinda—’

‘He rang her bell.’ River finishes my sentence as he walks up with the worst words ever.

Dax bursts out a laugh.

‘Shut.Up,’ Mercy says. ‘And everyone knows butme? What the hell, Hols? I thought we were cool? No more lying, you said.’

‘We are good. River needed to know first. You were next.’

She crosses her arms over her chest, cocking her head. ‘Fine. That’s an acceptable reason, considering how immature River is. I’m sure he needed the extra words and Dax’s gentle touch.’

Dax and River both roll their eyes.

‘What happened to you two going slow?’ she asks.

‘The heart doesn’t always agree with the head. My intentions were good.’

‘But her loins were on fire,’ Dax adds with a goofy grin, now taking my hand in his.

I shrug.

Mercy stares at the two of us.

‘Well, this is uncomfortable,’ Dax says. ‘I’m going to save myself and run to the bathroom. You good?’

I nod.

Mercy waits until he’s out of hearing distance. ‘I can’t believe you did him.’

‘I didn’tplanon it. It just happened.’

‘They’re sharing a bedroom,’ River says, ratting me out before lifting his beer to his lips.

‘Youmoved inwith him? Likeofficially?’

‘I didn’t even realize that I’d done it until River pointed it out ten minutes ago. We haven’t made anythingofficialyet. He hasn’t even called me his girlfriend. I didn’t really know what I felt beyond knowing I was feeling something.’

‘Well, what was that something?’ she asks.

‘I uh…’ I look at River then back at Mercy. ‘I think I’m in love with him.’ I shrug again like I just can’t help it. And it’s not a lie.

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