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"Saying what?"
"Ourreport," Ethan mimicked. "You make it sound like you have a fucking kid with him—-"
It was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard Ethan say, and Anah couldn't help bursting into laughter.
When Ethan heard Slade cough, he said pleasantly, "I forgot to tell you. Kady was here earlier, and she asked me to let you know she won't be able to join us for lunch. She also needs to work on a report."
Slade shrugged. "It happens."
"She had a guy with him, too," Ethan drawled.
Slade stiffened.
"And you know how that idiot was looking at my Anah, didn't you? Well, the guy with Kady was a lot worse. He was staring at her like—-"
Slade had already stalked off before Ethan could finish speaking.
"That was such an evil thing to do," Anah accused him.
"I only told him the truth. You saw how that guy was staring at Kady—-"
"Because he forgot his glasses," Anah protested, "and he could barely see anything."
"Let's stop talking about other men," Ethan dismissed.
"Only if you promise me to stop preten—-" Her voice trailed off when Ethan suddenly took her hand and placed it over his chest.
Oh.
"I'll never lie to you again," Ethan said evenly. "And I meant it."
So this hard, furious beating of his heart—-
"I don't have to pretend I feel jealous about other men."
Anah gulped.
"Because Iamjealous," Ethan said simply, "and I doubt I'm going to feel less possessive anytime soon." The past was still too fresh in his mind, and there were still nights when he woke up enveloped in cold sweat, and the only thing that could calm him down was the sight of Anah, curled up against him.
He looked down at Anah, and unlike before, the moment he felt the urge to say the words...there was no longer any need to hold them back.
"I love you, Anah."
But instead of saying the words back, Anah suddenly started fumbling through her tote bag.
Ethan frowned. "Are you missing anything?"
Anah shook her head. "There are people looking at us."
Ah.
"Found it." Anah came up with a book, and his eyes gleamed as she flipped it open to cover her face.
A moment later—-
"I love you, too." Just saying the words made Anah feel like bursting with happiness, and her heart skipped a beat when she felt Ethan pull her close.
He brushed his lips against her cheek, and her heart skipped another beat.