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She nods with a soft smile, squeezing my hand right back.

“Speaking of Maisie”—Lyric refocuses—“are you coming to her birthday party the weekend after next?”

“Like this one would let me miss it.” I nudge Char.

“He promised to help set up the day of.” She sticks her tongue out at me and it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to lean forward and suck the damn thing into my mouth.

“Good. We can use all the help we can get. Kai’s friend has already agreed to DJ for us, and Jackson is taking care of the food.”

“We’re on decorating duty.” Char gestures between herself and Lyric.

“I think you meanwe’reon decorating duty.” I gesture between the four of us.

“Fair.” Lyric laughs.

“I just hope someone doesn’t ruin the surprise.” Charlotte lifts her glass to her lips, taking a small drink.

“I don’t think they will. Most people don’t even know it’s for Maisie’s birthday. Only the handful of us involved in putting ittogether know what it’s for. No one else will find out until they arrive.”

“Not a bad plan,” I admit.

“Thanks. It was Kai’s idea.”

“Just seemed like the most practical move.” He shrugs.

“It’s gonna be so much fun.” Lyric claps her hands together. “And just wait until you see Char’s dress. You’re going to die.”

“Can’t be any better than seeing her naked.” The words slip out before I even think to stop them.

I’m not sure how I expect my sister to respond to that, given that I’ve never spoken so candidly in front of her, but her tipping her head back and belting out a laugh was the furthest thing from what I thought she would do.

“Anyway...” Char clears her throat, trying to mask her own laughter as she stares at Lyric.

“It’s true,” I say directly to the woman at my side, keeping my voice low so that only she can hear me.

She swats at my arm and throws me a warning glare that sayswe are not talking about this in front of your sister.

Most of the evening goes on the same way, and by the end of dinner I’ve laughed so much my fucking stomach hurts.

I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve ever felt so damned happy. Like for the first time in a very long time, everything is just falling into place, and I know with complete certainty that it’s thanks to the beauty who climbs into the passenger seat of my car and hits me with a smile that lights up her entire face.

“Told you it wouldn’t be weird,” I tell Char, waving at my sister as she and Kai pull away.

“I don’t know. You made it a little weird.” She gives me a knowing look.

“Did I?” I cock my head to the side, amusement dancing across my expression.

“Pretty sure you talked about me naked not once but three times.”

“I can’t help it.”

“You could have helped it.” She gives me a pointed look.

“Not when all I could think about was getting you back into my bed so I could ravish yournakedbody.”

“Well, when you put it like that.” She leans toward me, her hand coming to rest on my thigh.

“Careful, Red. I said in my bed, but if you start touching me, I’ll have you bare before we ever leave this parking lot.”