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“Wouldn’t miss it,” I say, squeezing her back before pulling away. “What can I do to help?”

Jake grins up at me from his lawn chair, a beer dangling from his fingers. “You can start by telling us how you managed to domesticate the beast over there.”

I glance back at Beau, who’s already standing with Rowan at the grill, and smile. Turning back around, I drop into the seat beside Jake, who’s leaning back, one elbow hooked over the chair, dark blond hair falling into his eyes. Scruff dusts his jaw, and he grins, a crooked, easy smirk that seems permanently glued to his face. This guy is a total goof and mega flirt.

“How about we talk about you. Where’s the girl you’ve been seeing? Madison? I thought she’d be here.”

“Madison? Nah, we’re not together.”

“Oh.” I blink, caught off guard. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”

He laughs and takes a long pull from his beer. “Don’t be. I don’t do that serious stuff, Whit.”

There’s something in the way he says it that makes my stomach twist. Too practiced, like he’s said those exact words a hundred times before.

Before I can respond, Violet drops into the chair on my other side, fanning herself with a paper plate as she hands me a wine cooler.

“Trust me, he’s not bent out of shape over Madison. He was just telling Rowan about the latest offer he got.”

Jake snorts.

“From a couple,” she continues. “Apparently, they met him at that bar and decided he’d be a ‘fun addition.’”

I choke on my drink. “A fun addition?”

Jake smirks. “Direct quote.”

“And what did you say?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I said no.”

“You said no to a threesome?” My brows shoot up. “Since when do you turn down anything that involves naked people?”

Jake laughs at that, but instead of firing back immediately, he tips his head against the back of the chair and stares up at the sky. His grin softens into something more thoughtful.

“Since I learned math,” he responds.

Violet snorts. “Math?”

“Yeah.” He gestures lazily with his beer. “Two people who already share a bed and a mortgage? That’s not a level playing field. It’s all fun until one of them decides they like you more. Then, suddenly, you’re not the fun addition. You’re the problem.”

“They’d like you more?” I tease. “You sure about that?”

He grins, cocky as ever. “Historical data tells me so, Whitley. It’s always the men.”

“Please, tell me more. I feel like there’s a really good story here.”

He takes another swig of beer. “I’m just that good in bed.”

“Stop hitting on my wife, Jake!” Rowan calls from the grill. I peer over to see Beau also giving us a death glare.

I snort. “Good luck at work on Monday. Beau also heard that.”

Jake just laughs, completely unfazed. “He loves me.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out, expecting a text from my mom or maybe a client follow-up. Instead, my sister’s name flashes across the screen.

Harper: