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"I get that you’re scared, and--"

"I’ petrified!" I proppedht without a sick need to call hio away But I’ain, and I can’t handle that I’ve offered friendship, and I want to ive hiain"

"Okay, just be careful" She s her best to be the loyal best friend I needed

Finally, she seean--I did, h to risk another chance with him I wasn’t sure I’d survive it, and I hated hoeak it made me feel

Chapter Seventeen

Best-Laid Plans

"Caleb!"

I heard rather than saw Oliver when he walked in My head shot up, staring at the door where he stood, with Logan directly behind hiht of hi open, with his dark work suit underneath it He looked good, but then again, he always did

No I needed to remain unaffected, no matter how much my brain replayed our last interaction--our first, but not last, rendezvous in bed

"Hey, little buddy!" Caleb replied, bending down and holding up his hand for a high five

"Are you going to go and say hi?" Hilary’s voice brokeLogan’s texts since that night while I worked outto Oliver Not to et it over with

"Yeah, a quick hello I’ll be right back"

As I walked over, s at how happy Oliver appeared, I stopped abruptly when I saho entered behind Logan Her head was down, placing her phone back in her purse, but I recognized her ian to turn around, but it was too late Logan sawan to detour to the ladies’ roo there forced et she even existed I released a breath, ran ue over my dry lips, plastered a surprised smile on my face, then turned around

"Hey! What are you up to?" I asked, strolling back over, eyes focused entirely on Oliver

I could feel Logan’s piercing gaze boring intoas well, but I continued over, s as he wrapped his hand around the slender hand beside him I followed it up the ar my cheeks

"This is enuine ad her all in once again The woan to want Her long legs rocked a pair of dark skinny jeans and she wore a pair of patent-leather knee-high boots with a black fitted jacket, an expensive scarf wrapped twice around her neck

"Hi, it’s a pleasure to officially meet you, Cassie" From the way she bit out lance froain It was then that I finally allowedwith keen interest as I sed the lump in h my uncomfortable smile

What else was I supposed to say? "Glad to see you’re back after abandoning your family?" Honestly, I wanted to lean forward and let her knoould happen if she broke Oliver’s fragile heart The thought caused me to wince

"So, Oliver tellsjob All those kids running around" She laughed once, and my dislike for her was cemented It wasn’t fair to her, and it wasn’t like me, but my protectiveness for Oliver knew no bounds