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Delaney waved a pink painted finger in my direction. “He's in love with you. Watching you like a little puppy dog.”
I held up my hands. “The feeling is not mutual. Which I've explained to Carter. He's well aware.”
Delaney's heels clicked on the tile as she closed the distance between us.
Was this really happening right now?
She pointed at her chest. “He's with me.”
I held up my hands. “I know.”
Her hands found her hips. Her head tilted. “Are you messing with me?”
My head started to pound. I hated everything about this. Absolutely everything.
“I'm not trying to steal your boyfriend. I'm very happy with Beck. And if you love Carter and want to be with him, then I'm so happy for you. Honestly. There's no competition here.”
Delaney heaved a sigh and shoved her hair behind her ears. “Damn. I think I believe you.”
My bladder was on the verge of full rebellion. I rushed into the stall. “I know this is the worst timing, but I really don't want to pee my pants while we hash this out.”
My whole body tensed before my bladder finally released. “Oh thank God.”
“Sorry. I guess I should have figured you needed to use the restroom.”
I waved, not that she could see me. “It’s fine.”
The automatic towel dispenser buzzed, and I heard sniffles as I finished up.
When I exited to wash my hands, I sidled up to the vanity. We stood side by side, Delaney dabbing her eyes while I washed my hands.
I leaned my hip against the counter while I dried my hands. “I hope you believe me. I'm madly in love with Beck Bennet, although I won't tell him that to his face. Not yet anyway.”
Delaney managed a small smile, before wiping it clear from her face, a look of horror replacing it. “I can't believe I stormed in here to accuse you of liking my boyfriend. What is wrong with me?”
I waited patiently as she worked it out on her own.
“How insecure am I over this man? I need to check that,” she said, and it felt rhetorical but still…
“We've all been there,” I assured her because it was the truth.
Annoyance and appreciation battled in her eyes. “In high school, maybe. I'm a grown woman.”
I shrugged. “We’re all entitled to make mistakes.”
She rushed me, pulling me in for a hug that nearly knocked me off my feet. “Thank you.”
We left the bathroom together, to find Carter and Beck on opposite sides of the hallway, Carter on his phone and Beck surveilling the room around him.
Delaney flashed me one last smile before catching up with Carter who boasted a confused look on his face.
When there was a safe distance between us and them, I discreetly pinched Beck’s ass. “You let her follow me into that bathroom.”
He pushed off the wall. “I figured I'd come in if I heard shouting.”
“Ppft. Some bodyguard you are.”
He threaded a hand in mine and kissed me gently on my cheek. “A true bodyguard knows when to step in and when to let things be.”