Page 66 of Because I Liked A Boy

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Me: Ruby…

Ruby: Don’t you Ruby me. Spill. Or I’m clocking out early and storming that mum’s.

A laugh slipped out before I could stop it, earning a glare from the woman browsing poetry in the corner.

Me: Later. Promise.

Ruby: Fine.

I shoved my phone face-down, cheeks hot, Hunter’s note burning through me like a brand.

Five minutes later, I caved.

Me: Thanks for the latte. And the cookie. But youneed a new coffee shop because now Ruby’s on my back and Theo’s probably on yours.

Fuckboy: Worth it.

Fuckboy: Besides, let ’em talk.

Me: You’re impossible.

Fuckboy: Impossible to resist.

Fuckboy: See you tonight, princess. Wear something that’ll make it hard for me to behave.

My thighs pressed together under the counter, heat coiling low.

Me: Arrogant.

Fuckboy: Accurate.

Fuckboy: Admit it—you’re thinking about me right now.

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.

Me: I’m at work.

Fuckboy: And?

Fuckboy: Princess, I’ve had my mouth on you. You think shelving books is gonna distract me from that?

My breath stuttered.

I locked the phone before I could spiral and shoved it deep in my pocket. Even when he wasn’t here, he was everywhere.

The rest of the afternoon dragged, customers blurring into one another while my mind kept racing ahead to tonight.

By closing, I was raw with nerves. I killed the lights, locked the till, tugged my cardigan tight around me, and stepped into the cool evening air.

And froze.

Hunter leaned against his car like sin made flesh, arms folded, tattoos stark against his grease-stained T-shirt. His green eyes found me across the street, and that grin—slow, wicked—curved his mouth.

Of course he was waiting.

“Jesus,” I muttered, heat crawling up my neck.

He pushed off the car, casual as ever, and tipped his chin toward me. “Ready, princess?”

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