“Did you hear about Chloe going to the Hawthorne estate and causing a ruckus?” she asked.


    “No.” I answered and shrugged as I focused on my meal. “But, I’m d that Chloe is causing trouble for Ethan. He doesn’t deserve peace.”


    “Amen to that.”


    I told her about how I was babysitting Alexander’s blind date, and she gasped, saying that something like that was way above my job


    description. We gossiped about a few other trivial things, and the knot in my chest loosened slightly.


    It was nice to have a friend.


    *Alexander*


    My hand tightened around my fork as I nced over at Olivia. She seemed engrossed with her meal and was chatting on her phone and smiling. Annoyance washed over me. How could she seem so unaffected by the fact that I was on a date? I had even caught her flirting with her waiter earlier. When I saw that, I had almost shattered my winess.


    “So, what do you think?”


    With effort, I tore my gaze away from Olivia and focused back on my blind date.


    Naomi was staring at me with an expectant smile.


    “I’m sorry, what did you say?”


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    11:45


    VAD MOME


    Disappointment shed in her eyes. “What do you think abouting with me to an art show on Saturday?”


    “I’m sorry, I have other ns,” I said and took a sip of my chilled wine.


    I seemed to be apologizing to this woman a lot.


    Instead of more disappointment, her eyes held determination. “Please, I don’t think this date has gone well. I want to give us another chance to get to know each other.”


    I sighed and swallowed another mouthful of wine. I needed something stronger to get through this night.


    “Naomi…I think that you’re a lovely woman, but we aren’t right for each other. Going on another date wouldn’t be fair to you. I couldn’t put my all into a rtionship right now.


    <i>” </i>


    Her brow furrowed, and her bottom lip jutted out. “Why?”


    “It’s…personal.” I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat.


    “What kind of women do you like then? Why wouldn’t you be interested in someone like me?” she asked and gestured to her slim, toned figure.


    On their own ord, my eyes flitted to Olivia.


    Naomi followed my gaze and snorted. “Ah, so you like women with healthy appetites?”


    After I had my fill, I asked my server to wrap up my leftovers. When I looked up to see how Alexander’s date was going, my stomach dropped.


    Naomi and him were gone.


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    11.46


    Wow. Had Alexander just left me here to find my own way home?


    Fine. I would order a few desserts to go and then take a cab home. Anger coursed through me from being ditched here when Alexander was the one who had wanted me toe in the first ce.


    Whatever.


    I took out my phone and wrote out a message to Alexander. I told him that I was leaving the restaurant and to have a fun night getting to know Ms. Wright. I even included a pun saying that I hoped she was the ‘right‘ one for him.


    Right after I sent the message, I felt a warm presence above me.


    My pulse quickened as I looked up and my gaze locked with Alexander’s.


    “Where’s your date?” I asked. I was hoping that he couldn’t hear the jealousy in my voice.


    “I sent her home.”


    His words rang through the air, and they sounded like music to my


    ears.


    Despite myself, my heart lifted at that, and a smile bloomed across my face.


    Alexander grinned, and he held out his hand to help me stand. As soon as I touched his warm palm, an electric current went up my arm from the contact. He helped me collect my takeout containers and escorted me back outside. The sun had gone down, and the night was dark and cold.


    His hand never left mine as we walked. Something that excited and scared me. I had to admit that it felt good to walk out of the restaurant


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    by his side rather than watching Alexander escort his date.


    When we were in the car, I wasn’t in a talkative mood as I stared out


    the dark window.


    But Alexander had other ns.


    “So, what did you think about my date?”


    Even hearing her name on his lips made a spark of jealousy re inside of me. But on the outside, I made sure to keep my expression cool and neutral.


    “She’s beautiful,” I admitted. “She seems poised and elegant. No wonder your mother set you up with a woman like that.”


    Alexander’s jaw clenched. “Yes, but what did you think of her?”


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