Page 108 of The Immortal’s Mark

My joke doesn’t land.

“Please.” Paige finally looks up from her phone. “Some of those stares are for you, too.”

She shifts her gaze pointedly.

I follow it and notice a row of guys at the bar I hadn’t clocked before. One of them raises his hand in greeting and smiles wide. His friends nudge him, and they all look my way.

Heat floods my cheeks.

I offer a polite smile, then turn back to my friends.

Paige’s grin is triumphant. “See? Not frumpy.”

Gregory huffs, pulling his phone out. “Of course, Darcie isn’t frumpy. What a ridiculous thing to say.”

“Whoa.” Paige lifts innocent hands. “I didn’t say that. She did.”

He unlocks his phone and gives it his attention.

Paige mouths whatever at me and takes a sip of her soda before saying, “So, we’re moving locations, huh? Any idea where we’re going?”

“Nope,” I say.

Paige and I both turn to Gregory.

He ignores us.

“Ahem.” Paige clears her throat.

He drags his eyes up and lifts a brow. “What?”

“Do you know where we’re going?” she asks.

His gaze drops back to his phone, and his finger swipes down the screen. “That’s confidential information.”

She huffs. “What’s the big deal? We’ll find out tonight.”

“Then you will know soon enough.”

“Ugh!” She flings herself back in the chair. “How do you stand hanging out with this guy? Why did we even invite him to lunch?”

“He’s my bodyguard,” I say, suppressing my laugh. “He’s invited everywhere I go.”

“Man,” Paige exhales. “I feel sorry for you.”

Gregory doesn’t respond to the jab.

The waitress returns with our food.

As she sets Gregory’s salad down, she brushes her chest against his arm.

“Here you go,” she says in a sultry voice.

Paige and I share an amused look.

Gregory leans back, trying to avoid contact, but Hannah is not deterred.

She places plates in front of me and Paige, then clears her throat.