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“Maybe,” I say, feeling guilty. “I’m going to be kind of busy, but I’ll let you know.”

“Sure.”

“Oh, hey there, Rosie.” Patrice walks over to us.

“Hi. How are you?”

“I wanted to thank you for hooking me up with that hunk, Brett. He’s even more gorgeous than you said.”

“Oh, well, I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Oh, girl, don’t you know I love to tame men who don’t want to be tamed? The first date might not have gone well, but the second date? Trust me, it’s going to go amazing.”

“Ah. Sure. He asked you on a second date?”

“Well, not yet. But when he sees all this”—Patrice licks her lips—“he’s not going to be able to say no.”

“Sure.”

I don’t bother telling her that Brett and I are friends with benefits or that we’re now exclusive because that would be weird. So, I just smile at her.

“I cannot wait to get that man in bed. He looks like he’s got a big cock.”

I grit my teeth as I stare at Patrice. I don’t like the way she’s talking about Brett, but I can’t go full psycho.

“So, Marcus, do you have any more information about the audition or what I should be doing?”

“Sure. I think they’re coming to a set at the end of the week, and whoever they find funny, they’ll sign up.”

“Okay. Well, hopefully, they find me funny.”

My phone beeps, and I pull it out. It’s from Brett.

Pancakes tomorrow morning?

I message him back quickly. I can’t.

You want dick instead? :P

I grin at the phone and quickly shove it back in my pocket. When I look up, Lucia is frowning slightly.

“Who was that?” she asks.

I shake my head quickly. “Just Brett, asking a question about Catalina Island.”

She looks doubtful, but doesn’t say anything else, and my heart races. Did she see my screen? I bite down on my lower lip.

“Anyway, we should get going. It was really good seeing you both, Marcus and Patrice. I hope we all make it.”

“I hope you agree to go to lunch with me later,” Marcus says softly. “I really do want to get to know you better.”

All I can do is stare at him and smile. He’s a nice guy, but right now, all I can think about is the man with the light-brown eyes, who makes me laugh and orgasm. The man with the fortress around his heart that I want so badly to break through.

Chapter Eighteen

BRETT

I hate this. I hate not waking up to Rosie’s face in my bed in the morning.