“Or while he was still active with the military?” Melody added.
“I have no idea,” Harlow admitted. “I didn’t find that out.”
“So all you know is he was CIA?” Kaisa asked.
Harlow shrugged, then nodded.
Kaisa fixed her gaze back on me. I fought not to shrink back into my recliner as they all focused on me again.
“Alright. Let’s get back to you then,” Kaisa said.
“Can we not?” I asked, nearly begged.
“Do you like Pyre?” Melody asked.
I opened my mouth, looked around at them, then closed it again.
“Come on,” Maya prompted. “We won’t tell anyone.”
“Well, Lyric, once she gets back,” Kaisa amended. “But no one outside our circle.”
Sighing, I looked down at my hands. “I think he’s very handsome.”
“We know that, girl,” Mona said with a wave of her hand. “But do youlikehim?”
“I-” I swallowed as they all seemed to collectively lean toward me, waiting to see what I’d say. “I don’t really like men.”
Their eyes all widened.
That was when I realized what I’d said. “I mean, Ilikemen.” Now they just looked confused. I sighed. “I don’t really date.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re trying to fix that,” Kaisa said. “Could you like Pyre?”
Looking over at Ainsley, I told her, “Please don’t tell him this.”
“Your secret is safe with me. I only told them about the kissing thing because they’re your friends,” she replied.
“Okay,” I said. Taking a deep breath, I admitted, “I don’t really know him, but I wouldn’t mind getting to know him.”
“I knew it,” Harlow told the group. She was wearing a smug smile. It was as if I’d admitted to them that I was in love with the man.
“But-”
“No buts,” Ainsley said with a shake of her head.
“But it’s important,” I said quickly before she could cut me off again for saying but twice.
Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine. But what?”
I’d tried to tell Ainsley before, but she’d dismissed my concerns. I needed them to understand. “I’m not exactly the kind of woman that men chase…”
“Why not?” Mona asked.
“Yeah, you’re gorgeous,” Kaisa said, sounding confused.
“And sweet,” Ainsley added, echoing what she’d told me before.
“Successful,” Harlow continued.
