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Braden’s gaze sharpened at ed "You’d only end up with a bunch of wasted paper if you had a typewriter"

He was giving me an out My s skills"

"It’s not the only thing you’re good at" He grinned lasciviously as he wandered into the rooht he was co over to kiss me To my surprise he walked around the bed to raph of my parents "This yourup "Yeah"

"You look like her, but you’ve got your dad’s coloring She was beautiful, Jocelyn"

Pain dug its claws intoup, my back to hi here?"

I heard his footsteps quicken behind me and felt his arm come around ainst hi used to Braden’s tactility The ht it would be harder to get accustomed to since I wasn’t really an overly affectionate person myself, but Braden didn’t really ask me whether I wanted to be hauled into his arms every five seconds

And the truth was, I didn’t really mind it

Another surprise

His breath whispered across ht I’d come by and pick you and Ellie up for family dinner Make sure you turned up Wouldn’t want you to miss the after dinner dessert at round, turning my cheek to catch his lips with ross," Ellie’s voice broke us apart She stood before us in the hallway "Could you close the door when your friends with benefiting each other?"

I pulled out of Braden’s arue out ather playfully on the ass as I passed her to get

"Hullo," I heard Braden answer and turned around to watch him walk into the hall past Ellie He had his serious face on "What? Now?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he shot me ‘a look’ "No It’s fine I’ll be there soon" He slipped his phone back into his back pocket with a frustrated groan "That was Darren Faot a Sunday delivery coet anyone who knohat they’re doing to cover for him I have to take care of it" His eyes held mine for aanother fa to love that"

"Tell her I’retfully, eyes still on ht is out"

Oh yes His plans for e rinned at him "Oh well"

"Don’t look too disappointed" He threw e some time this week"

"Um," Ellie stepped between us, "Can you not schedule whatever this is that’s going on between you in front of ave Ellie a quick peck on the cheek "Els" And then he walked pastsoftly along the back of ht on out the front door

I stared after hi? I looked down atfrom where he’d caressed it That hadn’t felt very friends with benefitty

"Just sex"

"What?" I looked up at Ellie as staring at me incredulously "What?" I repeated

"Just sex" She shook her head and grabbed her jacket "If you tant to believe that, then it’s none of ut, I shrugged into my own jacket and followed her out the door

"What are you doing here?"

I’d collided into the back of Ellie in the doorway of her , accusingly, that question of

"Your mum invitedon Elodie and Clark’s couch with Declan beside hi a newspaper Clearly not a soccer fan

"My mum invited you?" Ellie strode into the room, her arms crossed over her chest "When?"

"Yesterday," Elodie’s voice trilled behind us, and we turned to see her and Hannah walk in carrying glasses of soda "What’s with the attitude?"

Ellie glowered at Ada"

"Ada it" Declan pulled on the sleeve of Adas for his body No wonder he and Braden got laid so easily Together the two of thely sole the football"

"Better watch you don’t get a football rammed up your arse," Ellie muttered under her breath, but both Ada his head as he turned back to the screen

"What’s funny?" Elodie smiled sweetly, cohter and Adalass of Coke

"Ellie said a bad word," Declan replied