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Iwon’tlet himget the better of me.

“What if you didn’t have to be alone?” Jack’s voice breaks me from my spiral, and I look back at him.

“What do you mean?”

His anxious eyes search my face. “I mean, what if you didn’t have to worry about showing up alone? What if …” He pauses, and I watch his throat work. “What if you were on my arm instead?”

JACK

Did I just say that out loud?

Kendra’s eyes grow wide.

Yep, I said it.

“What?” she replies.

On a wince, I motion between us. “You could come to the gala with me.”

Kendra looks down at the dresser in front of her, clearly processing what I just said. She shakes her head. “If we go as friends, he’ll say I was doing it just to spite him since that’s precisely what he suggested.”

Well, there goes my fallback plan.

The temptation to reach out and tip her chin up to look at me is strong, but I keep my hands firmly by my sides this time. I already pushed boundaries when I tucked her hair a second ago.

“So, what if you pretend to be my real date?”

Christ, the words just keep spilling from my tongue today.

Kendra’s head whips up to mine. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

I can’t tell if her smirk is in response to my proposal or the suppressed excitement I’m feeling too.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

“Deadly,” I reply, holding contact with her deep brown eyes so she can see just how serious I am.

“Jack, he willannihilateyou and call me out for being a liar. I told him I wasn’t seeing anyone.”

I balk. “He asked you that?”

She presses her lips together and nods. “That’s why he thinks I’ve gotten over him so quickly. He thinks I’ve moved on with someone else as a rebound.”

“Who gives a fuck what he thinks? I mean, truly, you’ve spent so long fitting around his needs. It’s time to start thinking about what you want.”

A subtle smile brightens her face. “And you think fake dating you is what I want?”

I shrug. “You did say you wanted to have some fun. Sure, it won’t be real, but I can show you what it’s like to date someone who actually gives a fuck. Plus, if it gets him off your back and out of your messages, then that’s an added bonus.”

I know my smile has turned cocky when she rolls her eyes at me in jest.

“You think you’d be a good date, do you, Morgan?”

Determination fills my chest. I know none of this is real, but I can’t help the rush of adrenaline when I think about Kendra Hart on my arm. Even if it is followed by a broken nose from Tyler. Provided I keep things professional and don’t react, he’s the one the Blades will take issue with.

“I’ll sure make you smile a whole lot more than Tyler ever did.”

When she finally releases the dresser handle from her palm, I reach out and push the drawer closed.