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“Thanks for this,” Joey said quietly. “It was sweet.”

“Eh, it was selfish, really. Dakota’s been going out with Felipe, and I’m tired of rattling around my house.”

He tilted his head, studying me, his smile quizzical. “Nice try, but I’m sure you have better things to do with your time than feed me.”

Words crowded my throat. I wanted to tell him it was for me. That I’d missed him. But I couldn’t seem to make them come out.

Hollywood had gotten me all twisted up inside, and I wasn’t yet sure how to untangle my feelings for Joey.

If I was leading him on—then I was leading myself on, too. I didn’t know where this was going, or how it would end, only that I couldn’t let go of him.

CHAPTER 25

JOEY

I slid my hand across the closet hanging rod I was adjusting, hissing as a sharp sting bloomed through it. “Damn it.”

I studied my palm. Yep. I’d gotten a splinter. I could just see the dark speck surrounded by reddened skin. Well, no better time to take a break.

I carefully gave the rod a little tug to check the fit. It gave a little—but not too much—which seemed about right.

Damon leaned in the door. “How’s it going in there?”

“Good. I was just about to take a break. You want to check my work?”

I’d learned a lot over the past weeks, but I was still just a volunteer. Damon came into the room, checked my brackets, and used his digital level to ensure the rod was straight.

“Perfect. We’re turning you into quite the handyman, huh? If you ever want a job in construction, you’ll be set.”

I chuckled. “Really? I don’t know. I’ve only done the small things.”

“You’ve got a good knack for it.” He nodded toward the doorway. “Come on. My boyfriend, Maverick, came over to visit and brought me some doughnuts.”

“From Glazed Holes?” I asked, quickening my step.

He laughed. “Yeah, I see you’ve heard of the place.”

“It’s amazing,” I said. “I make my dad pick up a dozen whenever he goes to town for business.”

“What business is that?” Damon asked.

“Law,” I said. “He wants me to work for him, but it’s not my cup of tea.”

Damon nodded. “Yeah, you really have to follow your passion when it comes to work. It’s going to take up most of your life. Why do anything you don’t love?”

That was a good point. But what if I never found something I really loved? My dad would only be patient with me for so long. I had to figure out my life, so I could start living it on my terms.

We emerged into the eat-in kitchen. Maverick, a pretty guy with pink-streaked hair, a soft lavender sweater, and clingy jeans sat at the table. A box of doughnuts was open in front of him, and he was licking frosting off his thumb.

“Oh, hey,” he said. “I totally waited for you guys.”

Damon laughed. “You had to drive them all the way from Granville. I’m sure that took enormous willpower.”

“So much,” Maverick said, pushing the box away. “But seriously, eat some before I devour the whole box.”

“Wow, you’re going to eat the box too?” Damon teased.

Maverick swatted his arm as he took a seat beside him, and Damon leaned in to kiss him.