Page 145 of How To Not Need You

His mouth twitches. “You just put my house key back on your keyring.”

“It's for cat-feeding purposes.”

“Of course.”

“Hades has needs.”

“Liv.”

I look down at the keys sitting beside each other.

“Fine.” My fingers curl around them. “Maybe it means a little more than the cat.”

“Okay.”

I glare at him. “I swear to God, Reid.”

The door cracks open and one blue eye appears in the gap. Then half of Tilly’s face.

“Are you done fighting?”

I look at Jake. He looks at me.

“I think so,” I say. The door opens another few inches. Tilly is still holding Hades, who looks considerably less invested in our relationship than she does.

“Did you kiss?”

Jake sighs. “Tilly.”

“Did you?”

“Yes,” I say. Her entire face lights up.

“I KNEW IT! I knew Operation Verandah Step would work!”

Jake goes still beside me. Slowly, he turns towards the door.“Operation what?”

Tilly freezes. Oh, this is excellent. Don’t laugh at the small bundle of mischief, don’t laugh!

Her eyes go wide. “Nothing.”

“Tilly.”

The door slams shut. I lose it then. There is no controlling the laughter that escapes me.

Jake looks at the closed door, then at me. “There was a name?”

That only makes it worse.

“Apparently.” I gasp out between laughs.

“She named the operation.”

“You should be proud.”

“She lied about a medical emergency.”

I finally get myself a bit further under control. “That’s just smart.”