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Rory gestures toward her earrings. “See? I told you these were better.”

Blair rolls her eyes. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, you look stunning.”

Blair looks down and catches me staring.

“What?” she asks, smiling.

I walk toward the stairs as she makes her way down. “Nothing.”

“That doesn’t look like nothing.”

“You look beautiful.”

Her smile softens when she reaches me. “So do you.”

“I’m wearing jeans.”

“Very beautiful jeans.”

Rory snorts behind her. “Please stop flirting in front of me.”

Blair laughs as I pull her carefully against me. My hand settles over her stomach automatically, and she covers it with hers.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

She searches my face. “You’re acting weird.”

Fuck.

“I’m not acting weird.”

“You are absolutely acting weird.”

From the living room, Aspen yells, “HE’S FINE.”

Blair turns toward the sound.

I close my eyes.

Jesus Christ.

Rory covers her laugh with one hand.

“Why did she say that?” Blair asks suspiciously.

“No reason.”

She looks between all three of us. Aspen suddenly becomes fascinated by the television while Rory studies the ceiling.

Suspicious as fuck.

“What are you all doing?”

“Nothing,” Aspen answers far too quickly.