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Unable to hold off any longer, he texted her. He just wanted some kind of contact with her. He wanted to hear about her day, know what she was doing and how she was. Like, everything.

VIPER:Hey. How are you?

He sent the text feeling like an idiot.Hey.Nice opening.

LYRIC:Tired. You kept me up all night.

He grinned.

VIPER:If it’s because you couldn’t stop thinking about me, I’m not sorry at all.

VIPER:I couldn’t sleep for thinking about you, Angel.

That was the truth. He was tired. Well, more than his usual drained self. But he was also amped about tonight and what it could mean going forward for him if he could pull all the pieces together.

LYRIC:I like knowing you’re thinking about me.

If she only knew how often he did so.

VIPER:What are you doing right now?

LYRIC:Prepping for dinner rush and avoiding my shadow.

VIPER:He’s back?

He didn’t like it one bit.

LYRIC:Yep. But I’ve got it handled. I put him to work making the playlist for tonight.

VIPER:I don’t like that he’s with you and I’m not.

LYRIC:My dad made sure my siblings know what’s going on. They’re looking out for me. Melody is hanging in the kitchen with me right now.

VIPER:Don’t ever let him get you alone. Please. I don’t even want to think about what could happen.

It sent a cold chill through him and turned his good mood sour. If he didn’t have to handle this thing tonight with Spike, he’d be there with her right now.

LYRIC:You’re the only one I want to be alone with.

God, this woman. She didn’t know what she did to him.

VIPER:I love that! I want that! But I mean it. Stay away from him.

He hoped she understood he was worried about her.

LYRIC:I’ll be at the bar until I close the kitchen, then I’ll be at my place. Alone.

LYRIC:Have fun doing whatever you’re doing tonight.

VIPER:I’d rather be with you.

And didn’t that say everything about where his head was at right now.

LYRIC:♥

He stared at the little symbol, hoping that one day she really would mean she felt that way about him.

LYRIC:You know where to find me. I have no idea how to find you. Maybe you’ll divulge that secret next time I see you.