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Life’s Too Short

Page 88

by Abby Jimenez

Malcolm laughed.

“He seems good with the baby,” Drake offered.

“He’s great with the baby. You know, just not interested in me.”

Malcolm turned on my mic. “Why don’t you just go over there and ask him why he didn’t want to kiss you?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I need to start putting boundaries between us. I just threw myself at a guy who didn’t want to make out. I totally humiliated myself. I think it’s time to exit this situation while I still have some dignity left.”

Like I even had a choice in the matter. Adrian was probably ready to go back to the noncommittal head nods in the hallways. He texted me saying he wanted to talk, but what was there to say? It would always be awkward between us now. He probably came to watch Grace today because he said he would and then he’d start making excuses and find someone else to hang out with. Someone datable who didn’t pounce him on the sofa after one too many martinis.

Drake reached across the table and put a hand on my wrist. “Enough about him.”

I raised my eyes to his. A woman outside the window behind him pressed a naked boob to the glass. It was negative five outside. I applauded her commitment. “Whatever you do, don’t turn around,” I said.

“Why would I turn around when I have you to look at?” He grinned at me.

And now we were in character. Malcolm and Laird were already filming.

I arched an eyebrow. “You know, there’s a reason we broke up, Drake. It was a good one.”

He leaned across the table and pressed the top of my hand to his lips. “Yes. It was.”

I gave him a long lingering look. “I miss you,” I whispered.

He stared at me for a moment. Then he sat back in his chair and took something from his jacket pocket. When he pulled out the gorgeous engagement ring and held it between us, I gasped. It was a band with inlaid pearl.

“I found the pearl myself,” he said. “I spent half my life looking for it, just like I did for the one who’s going to wear it.”

“Drake…” I breathed, a hand on my chest. I wasn’t even faking it. It was beautiful. The ring and the sentiment.

We let the moment sit for a few seconds.

“Aaand we got it,” Malcolm said, lowering the camera. “One-take wonders, both of you.”

“Phew.” I sat back in my chair. “Drake, I appreciate this more than you know.”

“Enough to entertain a brief sales pitch for a startup I’m interested in?”

I tilted my head. “You need me to invest?”

That was weird. Drake was a gazillionaire or something. He hardly needed my money.

“I think you might want to get in on the ground floor for this one.” He made a come-here motion to someone behind me. I twisted in my seat to see who he was calling over.

Brent was making his way to the table.

“No. Are you fucking serious, Brent? You called Drake?”

Brent sucked air through his teeth. “He’s the only other rich person I know,” he said, arriving at the table with his hands balled in front of his mouth.

I shook my head. “No. You’re not sucking Drake into one of your get-rich-quick schemes—”

“Butterfly, that’s not what this is,” Drake said. “Hear him out. Trust me.”

I looked back and forth between them. Drake was giving me his easy smile, and Brent looked like a puppy dog who wanted to be let back into the house.

I crossed my arms. “Fine. But only because it’s you asking,” I said to Drake.