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“He wanted to know if you were okay. Said you weren’t doing too well when I wasn’t there.”
I lifted my finger, pointing to his phone. “Gaunt and dying inside, remember? We’ve been through this.”
“He used the word abysmal.”
“Ouch.” Then I shrugged. “It’s probably fair.”
Luke chuckled but it faded. “He said he was sorry and that we all needed to talk. He feels bad, Blake. And he’s happy that you finally figured it out.”
I shot him a look. “Figured what out?”
“Well, his words were ‘I’m glad he’s pulled his head out of his ass’ but I was paraphrasing.”
Oh.
“Yes, I know,” I whined. “I’m an idiot, a dumbass,andI’m blind. But I know now, and that’s what matters.”
Luke stood up, dumped his phone on the lounge chair, leaned down, and kissed me. “Correct,” he said. “I’m so glad you’re here now. I still feel like I need to pinch myself.”
“I can do it for you,” I said, reaching up and pinching his nipple.
“Ow. Uncalled for, asswipe.”
I snorted. “Aww, I’ve missed you calling me names.”
He flicked the top of my head, which hurt. “And I’ve missed doing that.”
I rubbed my head. “Ow.”
He laughed as he walked inside. “Need anything while I’m in here?”
“Uh, my phone. If you can find it.”
I sighed happily, letting my head fall back on the lounge chair and closing my eyes. After a few minutes, I could hear Luke in the kitchen, so I figured he could hear me.
“Did you mean what you told Jeremy?” I called out. “That we were only staying here for a couple more days?”
“Hmm, I dunno,” he replied, walking out with two more bottles of water. He handed me one, along with my phone. “He said he wants us all to talk, but I didn’t want to commit to anything without discussing it with you.”
I scowled at the ocean, not at him. “Yeah, I dunno.”
Luke was quiet and I knew exactly what he was going to say. I still wasn’t up for hearing it.
I turned my phone on, seeing my battery was almost dead. Figured. I quickly ran through my contacts, found who I was after, and hit Call. Luke cocked a curious eyebrow at me and waited.
“Mr. Acosta,” a familiar, smarmy voice said. “I’m so happy to hear from you today. What can I do for you?”
Another fake person in a fake city, and it reinforced that I was doing the right thing.
“Roman,” I said. “Are you still in the business of selling houses?”
“Every day. Just selling, or you want to buy as well?”
“For now, selling. My place in Malibu. Can you do that?” He’d sold me the house, so I knew he was familiar.
“Absolutely,” he said. I could tell he was smiling, and I could picture his shark-like, smarmy face.
“Good. Let’s get it done.”
