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“Yeah, we’ll make sure people notice,” I managed to force words past my clenched jaw, hoping she didn’t catch the bitterness in my tone.
Tris blinked at me, her expression still uncertain. “So, um, maybe you could send me flowers … ” Her voice trailed off as she waited for a response.
Flowers. Flowers were for unoriginal, uninterested amateurs.I’d do something far better than justflowers.I wanted to shower her with gifts, show her how much she deserved—how muchmoreshe deserved than Peter or anyone else had ever given her.
“Killian, if buying me something makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to do it,” she said softly, edging away from me as she misinterpreted my silence.
Well, fuck it.
Her words snapped me to attention. “I told you I’m all in, and I meant it,” I firmly met her gaze. I had no doubt our plan would work. Other men seeing Tris in a new light—withme—would show them what an amazing woman she was. Not just the assistant or the wallflower, but a beautiful, sexy, smart woman that they would be a fucking idiot not to fall for and knew they didn’t deserve. All it would take was a little competition.
Resentment smoldered within me at the thought of some asshole winning Tris’s heart, someone he didn’t deserve.
But it wasn’t my problem, I reminded myself bitterly. Tris had made her decision and I would help her get what she wanted. And then I’d get what I wanted. For my life to return tonormal and to see Tris happy in the type of relationship she’d dreamed about.
“Do you have an online wishlist of things you want?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject.
Tris laughed, the sound playing sweetly in my ears. Like when the perfect song and melody came together.
“Not exactly. But I do have a lot of things in my online cart that I’m saving for later.”
“Show me.” I stuck out my hand, ignoring the spark of electricity that shot through me when our fingers touched in the exchange.
As I scrolled through her saved items in her online shopping cart, I took mental note of her preferences. Books, knickknacks, jewelry—all things that spoke of her personality, her interests. I wanted to buy all of it for her so I could see her face light up with joy.
I handed the phone back to her.
“What about you?” she asked.
“What about me?”
Her nose scrunched. “If you do sweet things for me or buy me presents I should do the same for you.”
My laugh burst forth louder than intended, causing her to frown at me while she pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa over her lap. When my gaze returned to her, she was twisting the blanket between her fingers.
“You’re serious?” I asked.
She nodded. “It can’t all be one-sided.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t remember when a woman had gotten me a gift or even asked what I wanted. Or why they would have to. I was the one with the money.
The concept felt foreign and uncomfortable.
I shrugged. “I’m a billionaire. I can get anything I want or need.” The disappointment on her face was palpable, and Iimmediately regretted my casual dismissal when her intentions had been pure and thoughtful.
“That’s not the point,” she huffed. “Fine, I’ll think of something on my own, then.”
I was curious to see what Tris might think I’d want.
I shrugged and changed the subject. “In a few nights, I planned to meet the guys from the old baseball team at a small club I own. You should come with me. It’ll be a low-key way to show people we’re together before the gala.”
She brightened. “That’s a good idea. I’d love to see them all again. Do you all hang out often?”
I smiled. She had no idea about our monthly meetings. No one did. “We get together whenever we can.”
“Who’s going to be there?” Her eyes sparkled. It warmed my heart that she was excited to see the old gang.
I made a mental note to text the guys and tell them to play nice. “Archer, Jack, and Luke. Trey’s busy. Some big fashion show he’s getting ready for.” I cleared my throat, finding it unusually tight at the thought of our debut as a couple to our old friends. “Going back to what you said before about boundaries … If we’re going to pretend to be a couple in public, we should probably practice.”