Page 82 of Just for the Plot

“Consider me honored that you were able to make it, then.”

I take a sip of my smoothie. “You know, you’re more down-to-earth this morning.”

“It’s because I haven’t fully woken up yet.”

“Oh, is that how it works? Once you fully wake up, your inner douche comes out?”

Both his brows raise. “You think I’m a douche?”

Taking my chances, I say, “Our first date you bragged about your football stats, and for a girl who could not care less about sports, it came off as extremely douchey.”

“Women fawn at those stats.”

“And what was the first thing you learned this morning? I’m not like other women.”

“I guess you’re not,” he says with a smirk.

“This is stunning,” Adalade says as she marvels at a burgundy cashmere sweater I found that I knew she’d love. “The color is so rich.”

“I thought it would look perfect on you with a pair of brown boots and your brown silk skirt.”

“Yes, oh, beautiful. I love it.”

“I’m glad,” I say as I take a seat on the couch next to her, pleased with the shopping I did for her today. “So then I just have to take the tweed jacket back?”

“Let me think on it for the night and I’ll let you know.”

“Great.” I glance at my phone, noticing the time and a text fromBennett saying that he’s done with his game and should be heading home soon. “Your dinner is on its way—steak salad with pickled onions.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“And if that’s all, I’ll pack these clothes back up and then head out.”

“Yes, that should be all.”

“I’ll just put them back in their bags and take care of them in the morning while you decide on that jacket, if that’s okay with you?”

“Yes, please just put the bags in the entryway closet.”

“Of course,” I answer as I start packing things up.

“While you do that, I was hoping to talk with you.”

“Oh?” I ask as I gently fold the cashmere sweater and put it back in the tissue paper the store wrapped it in.

“Yes, I’ve been invited to a dinner, a quaint one, no more than twenty people, and I was hoping that I could bring you along.”

“Sure, what day?”

“It’s Thursday night, but I have an ulterior motive for going.”

“You know I love the drama.”

She chuckles. “There is going to be a man there, his name is Draco Humphrey, and I was hoping to catch his eye.”

I pause and look up at Adalade, who is blushing. “Excuse me?”

She dismissively waves her hand at me. “Oh please, do not make a big deal of this.”