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I sigh, realizing there's no use in hiding who it is I'm meeting with. I never hide anything from the guys and they never hide anything from me.
Victor
I'm meeting with her for breakfast to discuss the development.
And no, it's not a date.
Lawrence
Sure, sure.
You just keep telling yourself that.
Roman
Go get 'em, tiger.
Victor
Later.
The buzzing finally stops as I pocket my phone and head to the bathroom to get ready. It's going to be an interesting morning, to say the least.
As I go through the motions of dressing, there's a weird tightening in my chest about the meeting. I did ask her and when I did, the development wasn't actually on my mind. As I take a last look at myself in the mirror I remind myself that it doesn't matter what my motivation for asking her was. She's the enemy and leading the charge against the development and I'm not going to mess up this opportunity to try and change that.
And in the meantime, maybe I'll enjoy the woman's company over some coffee. Not that I'd ever admit that to the guys. They'd never let me live it down.
Chapter Eighteen
Avery
I'mawake before my alarm goes off, too anxious about what's ahead of me this morning to sleep. A notification pops up on my phone. It's from Jessica to our group chat, her words dancing across the screen with a cheerful invitation that makes my stomach sink.
Jessica
Anyone up for breakfast at the Java Hut to celebrate the win?
Emily
Count us in!
Samantha
Great idea!
Jessica
Perfect! Let's meetup in 30.
Avery, you in?
I glance at the clock. Thirty minutes means our little group will get there at the exact same time that I'm supposed to be at that very same coffee shop, sitting across from Victor, trying not to get evicted over his fancy new development plans. And now it looks like I'm going to have an audience. Just what I need.
There's no use in hiding it. Hiding it from them would be so much worse. So, I come clean.
Avery
Actually... I'll be there too.