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"This is your fault," Chris says, eyes narrowed

"What is?" Rina and I exchange another sideways glance

Then Lacy breaks into laughter and grabs Chris's hand "This, dummies Your stupid setup"

"Yep All your fault We're bla in way over our heads," he adds

Lacy srins at her, then pulls her into a long kiss, and Rina and I can't help but exchange relieved sood fuck," Lacy protests when they break apart

"Well, I guess you can't help when Cupid strikes," I say

"Still Just wanted to let you kno your evil plan worked out," Chris adds Then his gaze darts between us, and I can practically see the calculations whirring in his head "Your turn’s next We have to return the favor"

"Definitely," Lacy adds, and when she aze, her eyelashes flutter alirl who I think would be perfect for you, Cannon, if only you'd be willing to actually take a leap and put yourself out there"

I grit e in her words "Well, that can be harder than you think, Lacy"

"Don't I know it," Chris interrupts "But hell, if I can do it, of all people, dude, you ought to be able to"

"Anye just wanted to update you both" Lacy winks at Rina

Rina grins "Glad to be a thorn in your side as always Anyti in over your head, you knohere to find me"

We slip out of the kitchen in order to give them solances around us, and lowers her voice, pitching it so only I'll hear

"Was that kind of weird?" she asks, glancing over her shoulder toward the break roooing for it and that it'sthat we're?"

"I think they suspect," I ad questions lately"

Rina groans softly "Lacy too I just assumed it was her womanly intuition, but if even Chris has noticed"

"This is getting harder to keep quiet," I say Then I chomp on the inside of my cheek Da questions Wondering about it Sooner or later, if we keep going, this is going to bloide open"

Rina lifts her chin, her eyes suddenly going hard and defiant "I can keep to ain," she whispers, her voice low and rushed "I canDon't you trust me?"

For a long, painful aze Watch the hardness in her eyes, the defiant set of her jaw "Of course I trust you, Rina," I whisper, and so softer, so more distant and almost wistful "That's the proble But I can't hold it in any to spill out anyway, then fuck it, we ht as well have this conversation before someone like Lacy or Chris force it out of us at an inopportune moment

"I don't understand," she murmurs

"I trust you too much, Rina I feel more than I should, I—"

Just then, a gaggle of our coworkers passes, chatting loudly Spencer, s to a halt "Cannon! Just theover those reports," he says, and I don't miss the finally in his tone "About the last one, the nu we could sit down and go over that in a couple minutes"

"Of course," I reply I plaster a smile onto my face, act normal until the crowd passes Then I shoot Rina a sideways look She's still planted besidepatiently