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“Are you unwell?”

“Possibly, but let’s go with no.Will you come?”

“My life is a mess, Drew.I’m not—”

“It’s one dinner.He sprung it on me,” I explain.“The gang has all met you, and I’ve been told I must bring a date.Compulsory or some such thing,” I lie.“I don’t want to invite anyone else, not after we’ve...”

I search for the appropriate word, but Gemma shocks me by filling the gap.“Fucked?”

“Yes,” I laugh as she threads her fingers through mine.

Something is different about her.

“I assume it’s a dinner party, not an orgy.”She smirks, teasing me, and I want to flip her over and practice.

“Well, you never know with Zander, but let’s assume it’s not.”I grin.“He did say the theme is sexy cocktail.”

“That’s not a thing.”Gemma bunches her nose, and giggles.It feels like I’m living inside a cartoon and the air around us burst into sprinkles of happiness.

Or maybe that was my heart.

There’s nothing left to say, so I kiss her again.










CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DREW

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Sneaking out beforea three-year-old wakes up takes skill.I set my alarm for five in the morning and now Gemma is watching me, naked under the sheets, as I pull my socks on and slip my feet into my shoes.

I’m just about to cross the room to kiss her goodbye when we hear the click.

We both freeze, our eyes flying open wider.

“Mommy.”