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I know we’re talking about help, and I know this is just who she is and how she treats everyone. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. But, for a moment I let myself believe that she does really wantmehere.

“Hey.” Liv comes barreling through the swinging door out of breath. “I’m sorry I’m so late, I got stuck helping Ryder again.”

“No worries.” I wave her off and stand from the table, dusting nothing off of my jeans.

“Alright, you girls have fun tonight,” Isla says, standing from the table.

I don’t know what force of nature prompts me to wrap my arms around her but before I know it she’s hugging me back.

“Okay,okay, what’s the craziest thing Max has ever done for you?” One of Sophie's friends, Cara, asks.

Everyone around the table is a handful of cocktails deep since we moved the wine and cheese party toThe Saloonand Liam declared drinks were on him tonight.

“Well, he—” Her cool sleek black bob does nothing to hide the way she turns fifty shades of red. “He got my name tattooed on his…”

“Dick?!” her sister, Charlotte, shouts.

“What? No. His chest, you eejit.” She bats her sister's arm and the table erupts in laughter.

“So Taylor, you and Knox?” Sophie wiggles her eyebrows up and down while shimming her shoulders.Oohsandaahssound off and when did I turn into the girl that blushes?

“It’s—”Fun? Serious? Exciting?I don’t know what it is, honestly. It feels like all of the above, but how can it be when we haven’t discussed what comes next? A long-distance relationship seems absolutely insane, but does staying seem any less crazy? “New,” I finally land on.

“You know, growing up, Knox was every girl in towns… what’s the word?” She leans across the table, looking up at the ceiling.

“Please don’t say it,” Liv says, dropping her head in her hands and I’m about to follow suit. I don’t care to know about Knox’s past relationships. I’m probably sitting at a table full of women he’s already slept with. Acid rolls in my stomach and threatens to come up my throat as I look around at all the beautiful and funny women I’ve gotten to know tonight.

“Crush!” she finally shouts, snapping her finger. Her sister and Cara nod their heads in confirmation.

“Oh, thank god,” Liv murmurs.

“I say this because he never gave much attention to anyone—unless they were a muscular man carrying a ball, anyway.” They all laugh, and even though it’s ridiculous to find comfort in something he did or didn’t do fifteen years ago, I find my stomach settling and some of the tension leaving my shoulders. “So to see him all wrapped up in you is nice.” She smiles at me, reaching across the table to pat my arm.

God these people are touchy-feely.I instinctively place my hand over hers.And apparently, I’m becoming one of them.

“This table looks a little lonely. How about a round of tequila slammers?” Liam calls out while setting a tray of shot glasses in front of us.

“We’re lonely because you’re working our girl Ava to the bone over there and we want her over here with us,” Sophie snaps.

“Yeah!” a chorus sounds out. Sophie pounds her fist on the table like a caged animal while Cara and Charlotte boo at him and poor Liam doesn’t stand a chance against this group.

His hand rests on the back of Liv’s chair where I’ve noticed she’s gone ramrod straight. She’s the only one not banging her glass on the table now and I know it has nothing to do with not wanting the model to join us.

He hangs his head with a defeated groan before holding up his hands in defense. “Alright!” he says. “Taylor, don’t let these women scare you off. We’re not all this insane here.” He throws a pointed glance at the girls and his towel over his shoulder before making his way back to the bar.

“Wait, how did I forget that you’re actually leaving?” Sophie’s lower lip juts out. “I swear in my mind this is just our usual girls’ night out.”

There’s a little tug in my chest at her words because, truthfully, I forget that this isn’t my life sometimes too.

“I’ve still got a week left.” I like to think I have a good read on people, I call it my sixth sense. I pay way too close to people’s micro facial movements and from the minute I met Sophie, I liked her. But when she pumps her fist in the air like she’s cheering me on for a beer chug, I know right here and now, she’s my kind of girl.

“Ladies!” Ava sings, waving her jazz hands as she approaches the table. Her long dark hair is effortlessly smooth down her back, her flawless skin glows even in dim lighting, and she somehow radiates pure joy. The chair next to me is the only seat left but her smile doesn’t falter when she has to sit next to me.

“Taylor, right?”

“Yeah,” I smile.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, I’m Ava.”