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“You’ve looked at your phone six times,” Cole said.

Noah set it face down on the table. “No, I haven’t.”

“You have. Julia does the same thing when she’s waiting for a package.”

“Claire has a presentation today.”

Cole stared at him. “Of course she does.”

His phone lit up on the table. Finally.

Claire: The presentation went great. I’ll tell you everything tonight.

Noah smiled before he even finished reading the message. He had known the presentation would go well.

Claire had spent three weeks preparing, reorganizing the presentation twice, and pretending she was not nervous while drinking enough coffee to concern him medically.

Cole glanced at him. “Claire?”

“Yeah.”

“You get a ridiculous look on your face every time she texts you.”

Noah chose to ignore that comment and typed his reply.

Noah: I knew it would. Proud of you, princess.

The typing bubble appeared.

Claire: I did not take over the company.

Noah: Yet.

Claire: Dinner tonight. I’m celebrating.

Noah: I’ll cook. What do you want me to make?

Claire: My celebration does not involve dishes. We’re going out.

Noah laughed quietly. Across the table, Cole stared at him. “That is an embarrassing expression.”

Noah glared at him.

“Julia still blames me for Abraham Lincoln,” Cole said.

“As she should.”

“I had a feeling.”

“That’s your problem.”

Cole took another bite of his sandwich. “So, does Claire live with you now?”

“Technically, no.”

“That sounded suspicious.”

“She still pays rent across the hall.”