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“I’m not going to step aside while you pursue her.”

“I never suggested you should.” He sounds oddly calm.

“Then what are we going to do?”

“About what?”Why is he purposely being so obtuse?

“We both like her.”

He shrugs. “I don’t see a problem. She can decide who she likes. Or maybe she wants both of us.”

CHAPTER22

STELLA

When I go back inside, Marissa is in the kitchen making a cup of tea.

“Oh, you’re home.” I try to keep my voice level. “How was your work thing?”

“Not nearly as good as your back patio thing.” She pins me with a look. “Which one was better?”

“Which one what?”

“Who’s the better kisser?”

“Oh, you saw that?” I’m failing at nonchalance, but I give it my best effort.

“Yeah, I mean, I wasn’t trying to spy on you, but when I saw that there was more than one figure out on the patio, I had to find out what was going on. What I saw was a bit of a shock,” she says.

“Bit of a shock for me, too. But those were just thank-you kisses.”

“Thank-you kisses?” My friend’s voice drips with skepticism.

“There was a skunk on our patio, and I got trapped outside with it?—”

Her eyes widen. “Really? Well, ordinarily a skunk would be exciting news, but let’s focus on what’s important first. Those were not thank-you kisses. Unless it was thank you for having the faces and bodies of gods. Let me stick my tongue down your throats.”

“Marissa! There was no tongue involved. And my god, you’re starting to sound like Ana.”

“I guess she has rubbed off of me. So you kissed them to thank them for chasing away a skunk? Weirdest excuse I’ve ever heard, but okay.”

“Cam suggested it. And …I was grateful about the skunk.”

She snorts out a laugh, then gives me another skeptical look.

“Okay. I was curious.”

“So am I. How were they?”

I consider downplaying how amazing the kisses were, but I’m not that much of an actress. “Good. Really good.”

Marissa nods, as if this confirms exactly what she expected.

“They offered to come by tomorrow to patch up the fence, so the skunk can’t get in again.”

“No doubt they’ll want more thank-you kisses.”

I shake my head at her, even as my stomach flutters at the thought of kissing them again. “It’s late. I’m going to get ready for bed.”