Page 30 of Cinderella Is Faking It

“My lips are sealed.”

“Good.”

“Beck?” He turned around in the door and leaned back, voice lowered. “If this is who I think it is, take a big bag and throw out every open product in your kitchen. You don’t want her cross-contaminated just because you put peanut butter on everything. One allergic shock is a good joke for the wedding vows, but two...”

“I’ll see you at the Vortex tomorrow, Isaac.”

He left and I went back inside to find Del sitting up on the sofa, phone in hand.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better.” She put the phone down and watched me rummage through my kitchen while I dumped most of my food in the trash. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure I don’t almost-kill you twice.”

“Airborne isn’t really a big issue for me unless we’re on a plane, because they circulate the air. Just keep the curry far, far away.”

“Better safe than sorry.” No need to spook her with the idea of her spending a lot more time at my place in the future.

“So… you just happen to have a super hot doctor on call?”

“Excuse me?” I turned to find her grinning wide, phone pointed at me.

“That face was perfect.” She giggled at her screen, but the burst of energy quickly dissipated, and she leaned back again, eyes falling shut. “Seriously though.Doctor Hunter, Boston Memorial?” It sounded like Del was trying for a Scottish accent, but it came out strangely Swedish.

“We went to college together.”

“Really? He looks older than you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“No, just an observation. It’s probably the George Clooney temples.” Her phone pinged before I even had to deign that with another response for her to photograph. She opened one eye to glance at the new message. “Victor will pick me up in fifteen.”

“Hell no.” I dropped the family size jar of peanut butter in the trash can. “Isaac said you need to be supervised.”

“Victor can do that.” She clicked her tongue at me.

“I’m the one who almost killed you. I’ll be the one who makes sure you don’t die in your sleep.”

“How romantic.”

“I’m serious. Tell him to go back home and take the night off.” I’d seen her driver outside Bumble by the Sea, all tattoos and muscle.

“Beck, please. I need to brush my teeth and I want my PJs, my really cuddly blanket and then watch something that requires no brain power because I’ve seen it a million times before.”

“You’re under observation for four hours. If you get worse, you need medical attention again. You’re staying here, and if anything happens, I have Isaac on speed-dial. Who would Victor call?”

She worked her jaw before sighing and turning back to her phone. “Fine.”

“Give me a minute.” I took the bag out to the chute and thoroughly washed my hands to make sure no peanut traces remained before I returned to Del in the living room and stretched both hands out for her. “Come on, up you go Blondie.”

“Why?”

“Will you stop questioning everything I do and just trust me for once.”

“I’m just inquisitive by nature.”

“Uh-huh.”

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