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As a couple, they’d hung out every Friday night at this sports bar, which had been exactly why she’d avoided it for the last threein a deep breath for bravery, she said, “Hi, Steven”

Her high school sweetheart leaned up against the bar in front of her The cologne he wore now s her nose Even his voice didn’t hold the sae she remembered “How are you?”

The last tis and ht years she’d spent with this o, he had as because of a promotion with the software co on her finger, she’d followed I can’t live without you The long-distance relationship isn’t working Coas with o, she’d thrown the ring in his face and left hi just fine, thanks,” she said

“Hoork?” He smiled “Your family?”

“Both are good” She sed her disgust as she watched Steven take a big gulp of his beer She hated the sight of the lips she once kissed “How about you?”

“Lots of overti the bottle in his hand on the bar, he continued to give her a charismatic smile “Why haven’t you been around?”

Oh, I’ve been getting ed, whipped, and have sex in a dungeon “Been busy” To dig at hi someone” A total lie, of course The Doned to one—wouldn’t look to her as girlfriend material But Steven didn’t have to know that, and the lie poured deliciously off her tongue,him she was desirable

His eyes widened, incredulous “You have a boyfriend?”

I’ll have a Dom “Yeah, it’s new”

The bartender brought over the Cokes, and Presley picked up the glasses, plastering a huge fake sain Take care” Rot in hell, bastard!

She’d turned to walk away froid expression “I hadn’t heard you were dating” Glancing around the busy pub, he must’ve noticed Cora on the other side of the bar, because his jaw clenched “Who is it?”

“No one you know”

His gaze lingered on Cora and burned wicked before it returned to Presley “Is it someone Cora knows?”

“He’s a friend of hers” She didn’t like the dark undertone in his eyes Her life was none of his damned business “Why do you care?”

Steven hesitated, releasing her arht I wouldn’t?” At her pause, his eyes lowered into slits “Presley, of course I care about you We spent eight years together All right, I fucked up—”