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“Girl. Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call Kage?” Ashley chided.

“First of all, I don’t know his number, and second and even more important, I told you I never wanted to hear his name again.”

“Uh-huh,” Cami teased. “How many times have you looked at his picture tonight alone?”

“I don’t have my camera with me.”

Ashley jerked the phone from my hand, holding it to my face for facial recognition even as I tried to grab it from her hand.

“That’s my phone. Give that back to me.”

“No can do.” She quickly maneuvered to my photographs, pulling up the ones I’d purposely downloaded from the cloud. “There you go. You have three pictures of him so answer the question.”

I snaked my hand through my hair, trying to ignore them. Cami shoved her elbow into my side.

“Be honest. You miss him,” Cami said.

“He lied to me. How could I miss him?”

“Maybe because he’s gorgeous and according to you, he was the best fuck of your life.”

I glared at Ashley. “And he lied to me.”

“He didn’t lie,” Cami retorted. “Not really. He had no clue what would happen when he sent that photograph of your father to your godfather. He was just trying to protect you.”

“I don’t care,” I snapped again, instantly grousing at myself. There hadn’t been a single day I hadn’t stared at one of the pictures, wishing upon every star in the galaxy that things could be different. But they weren’t and I couldn’t continue with the fantasy.

They continued to stare at me, even making faces until I finally laughed.

“I do miss him, okay? But after everything I’ve been through with my father and all the hateful messages I’ve received on my social media accounts, I need to concentrate on building my business.” Not that I had the money to do any traveling. Even if I wanted to head somewhere tropical or even across country, I didn’t have the money. Two major sponsors had dropped me like a rock and my trust fund had been frozen while the investigation continued.

Not that I’d use a dime of it. Doing so would feel like taking blood money.

“Have you spoken to your dad?” Ashley asked, knowing it was a sore subject.

“Once. A couple weeks ago. He swears he didn’t sell his daughter off to a vile criminal.”

“Do you believe him?” Cami asked.

The news had been brutal, dragging my family through the mud straight into quicksand. The evidence against him seemed overwhelming, but the trial had yet to start. “I honestly don’t know. He sounded sincere. But I need some time.” I’d even thought about getting another full-time job but doubted anyone would hire me.

“You could always work at a sanctuary I know somewhere in Colorado. That would make you happy since you adore animals so much.” Ashley was shifting back and forth as if a light had gone on in that brain of hers.

Granted, I’d taken more photographs of animals than anything else lately since I couldn’t travel.

“He sold the place. I know he did. That’s what he said he was going to do.”

“Are you sure about that?” Cami cooed. “What if he didn’t? You should check.”

No, I wasn’t, but I couldn’t care. I just couldn’t care. “Leave me alone. Or at least order another round.” I tried to pass it off, but I missed Kage.

Even if he was the grumpiest man alive.

Kage

“A Budweiser with a whiskey chaser for my friend and a biscuit for my boy,” Jarvis said as he simultaneously slid the bottle andglass across the bar with one hand, holding the treat over the edge with the other.

Tank snagged it from the barkeep’s hand, his tail thumping against the old wood. “You’re spoiling that dog.”