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“We don’t hit our friends,” Larison said with a smug look. “Hitting isn’t respectful.”

“Are you gentle parenting me right now?”

Larison propped her phone up against something. “Is it working?”

I kept glaring at her. “No.”

She blew out a noisy breath. “Yeah, it doesn’t work on my daughter either.”

The two of us laughed again.

Reid knocked on my door at the exact right time. The cupcakes were frosted and sprinkled and ready. I also made sure I had a variety of fun drinks on hand as well. My place was clean and inviting.

Stomach flipping, I opened the door and smiled at Reid. She held up two glasses filled with pink liquid.

“I made drinks,” she said. “Non-alcoholic.” She also had the bowl I’d given her with the peaches under her arm.

Oh. I hadn’t thought she’d bring anything. She didn’t have to.

“Thanks,” I said, letting her in and closing the door.

She set the glasses and bowl down and went right for the cupcakes.

“Aw, they’re cute,” she said, picking one up and immediately taking a bite.

“I hoped you’d like them,” I said as she rolled her eyes back in her head and let out a little moan as she chewed.

“Ohhh, these are good,” she said, her mouth full with her second bite.

I was glad she enjoyed them.

“Thanks,” I said, picking up one of the drinks and sipping it. I had no idea what was in it, but it was tropical and delicious. It was a challenge not to gulp it down immediately.

“You might have to make another one of these for me,” I said, taking another sip.

Reid shoved the rest of the cupcake in her mouth, getting chocolate all over her lips. I laughed and handed her a napkin.

She wiped the worst of it, but still had a lot left, and she’d smudged some of the frosting onto her chin.

“You’re worse than my goddaughter,” I said, grabbing another napkin. “May I?”

Reid’s brown eyes narrowed a fraction. They were almost golden in this light.

“I guess,” she said, leaning a little bit closer. Before I could wipe her face off, I went to the sink and dampened the napkin before approaching her and cleaning off the frosting.

“There,” I said, giving her chin one last swipe. Just making sure I got all of it.

Our faces were close, and her eyes flicked down to my mouth before she took a step backwards.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice tight before she picked up another cupcake and went to sit on the couch. “So. Are we doing this?”

“Um, yeah,” I said, taking the drinks over.

We were doing this.

Chapter Eleven

Reid