Page 141 of Revenge Puck

“What?” Her lashes flutter innocently. “It’s true.”

Aaron’s mouth twitches into a half smile. “Good or bad?”

She narrows her eyes. “Jury is still out.”

That’s mostly true.

Aaron glances at me. “Should I be concerned?”

“Probably,” Blaire answers for me, gathering up her purse and cell phone, then kisses me on the cheek. “Relax. He doesn’t look like a flight risk.”

His brows rise. “Flight risk?”

“Yes. You don’t look like the type of guy who’s going to ghost.”

His brows frown. “I’m not going to ghost her.”

Blaire studies him for a long few seconds, then nods, satisfied. “Good answer.”

“I’m so sorry,” I murmur to him, color staining my cheeks as my friend grills him.

“For what?” he asks, stuffing both hands in his pockets, giving Blaire a wide berth to fuss and orbit around us.

“For…” What exactly am I apologizing for? Because my best friend is being protective ? That she has my best interests at heart and doesn’t want me to get burned? Am I embarrassed she’s loud and boisterous?

“I like her,” he says, and I’m not entirely sure if he’s being sincere.

Hard to say.

I give her a nudge toward the door. “Time for you to go.”

Having them both in the same room is stressing me out. Not that I didn’t want them to meet, but this spontaneous pop-in has my nerves pinging all over the place. One wrong word and I’m going to self-combust.

Blaire slips on her shoes at a glacial pace. “Text me when he leaves.”

“Oh my god.”

Aaron laughs quietly at my misery.

She straightens and waggles a warning finger at him. “I mean it. Don’t mess with her head.”

“I’m not,” he says levelly. “Scout’s honor.”

“Oh please.” She snorts. “We both know you didn’t have time for Boy Scouts.” She studies him again, then nods once. “Alright, alright, I’m going.”

Finally.

The door closes behind her, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Silence settles in.

Aaron shifts his weight, eyes scanning the space briefly before landing back on me. “She always like that?”

“That was her on her absolute best behavior,” I croak out. “Sorry, that was a lot.”

He nods like “that’s fair.”

“I didn’t mean to ambush you,” he says. “But tonight was rough and I know you bailed because that thing between your brother and I… don’t blame you for coming home.”