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“I haven’t heard anything about one, though…” Harper turned to me, scrutinizing me. “You did bail on drinks recently.”

“That’s right,” Juliana said.

All the while, I shifted from one foot to the other, wanting to put an end to this.

“All right. All right.” I held up my hands. “Yes, I’m seeing someone.”

Wait. What?

“I mean, I’m sleeping with someone,” I backpedaled, ignoring their raised brows.

“So, where is he?” Harper asked, glancing around as if he’d appear.

“Well, I didn’t exactly know you guys were going to ambush me with a surprise party.”

“This is so exciting. I can’t wait to hear all about him.” Alexis yawned.

I glanced at my phone, noting it wasn’t all that late. There was a new text message from Hunter, and I ignored it, quickly pressing the power button and hoping no one had seen it.

Preston wrapped his arms around Alexis, placing a kiss on her neck. “You ready, beautiful?”

She pouted. “But I want to hear all about Lauren’s new boy toy.”

Preston whispered something in her ear that made her breath catch. If I weren’t so thrilled for my best friend, watching them together would’ve made me sick. I’d never had a man look at me the way Preston looked at her. Never had a man dote on me, care for me the way he did.

Maybe because you never let them,whispered a little voice in the back of my head.

Hunter was a prime example. He was the first man who’d come close, yet I still wouldn’t let him in—not fully. A part of me wanted to, but…I couldn’t. Wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to.

As the cake was carried out, candles glowing and everyone singing, I was taken back to my twenty-first birthday. The birthday that had ruined every birthday since. The birthday where I’d discovered that my bastard of a father had been lying to us—for years.

And with that reminder, any potential feelings I did or didn’t have for Hunter vanished. I blew out the candles, extinguishing any hope of more. As I’d told him, this was just sex.

I only hoped I could remember that.