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Brows , Etienne frowned “Get rid of you?”

“Yeah” I shrugged “You see with Alice”

“That’s not—that wasn’t for ame”

“My ‘ga friendly”

“Uh, yeah” Etienne fiddled with the tassels on the end of his scarf “Because she’s into you”

I scoffed “Clearly not”

“That’s classic you In grade eleven, Sabrina Tate had to shove her tongue down your throat at a party before you got with the progra when people want you”

Looking away, Etienne’s face flushed red As I tried to connect Sabrina Tate to Alice, he cleared his throat and added, “She’s hot You should go for it Don’t you think?”

“Yeah, she’s hot I’ she’s not hot” My earlier irritation rushed back, and I worked to smother it “This isn’t about her I came here to be with you, not pick up chicks Why are you suddenly so invested in ue yet Hello, priorities”

He laughed weakly “Right I know I just don’t want you to be bored while I have to work” Closing his eyes, he rubbed his face His thick lashes were dark on his cheeks “I’et rid of you I’d never want that I—” He shrugged “I’m an idiot”

In a blink,an asshole “I’m sorry too Let’s eat and have a few drinks On me” I fished the vouchers from my pocket “Well, the drinks are on me Food’s covered”

We checked his coat and ed his lean, h I wore a sweater too

As we neared the lounge, Etienne’s face exploded with so ht up with hie one, but not the backless kind we’d always had at horand?

He stared at it like a kid on Christuess, since it was actually as close to under the e as possible

“You should play it,” I said

The joy evaporated, his lips pressing together as his shoulders hunched The brief flare of light in his eyes was gone as he shook his head

“Why not?” I nudged his arrandma would “Colow Not in a weird olf or vampire way—just with happiness