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“Uh-huh. Yep.” I put down my phone, then snatched it back up when it vibrated with a new text.

Fuuuck, someone get this dude another gd hobby, Hans had sent.

I frowned, typing back quickly. Shut up, dude. He doesn’t need another hobby. He’s perfect.

Yeah, I got that last night when you wouldn’t frickin shut up about him, broseph, he replied. I’m just sayin. What if you don’t get a chance to do it today???

I will, I typed with determination. I’m wily as shit, bro. I can get it off him for long enough. Trust.

Except I didn’t know quite how to do that. I darted a look at the crossword book resting on Seb’s thigh, not letting myself get distracted by how nice his legs looked in his pants. I had a mission, damn it. I had to focus.

I was still just sitting there aimlessly five minutes later when Seb suddenly tucked his pencil into the book to mark his page and set it down on the couch cushion.

“Where you goin’?” I blurted instantly.

He smiled over at me as he stood. “Just to the bathroom.”

“Oh. ’Kay.” I fidgeted restlessly, jerking my chair from side to side, then attempted to casually lean back and prop my feet on the desk so it looked like I wouldn’t be going anywhere. But my heel slipped and smacked into my monitor, then thudded back onto the floor.

Seb huffed in amusement, pausing at the bathroom door as I muttered, “Shit,” and sat forward to check that I hadn’t damaged the screen. “You okay?”

“Yep, uh-huh,” I got out in a strangled voice. “All good. Totally… good.”

After another second, he disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door. The moment I heard the click of the lock, I grabbed the folded sheet of paper from my desk and scrambled out of my chair.

Even though there was no one in the room, it felt like I had to keep low to the ground as I made my way over to the couch. I executed a sweet forward roll, briefly wondering if I’d make a good spy or something, then ducked down low and reached for Seb’s crossword book.

After tucking the piece of paper between the pages, I crept back over to my desk and had just enough time to pick up my phone to look all casual and stuff before the bathroom door opened.

Successful implantation achieved, bro, I texted Hans. My heart was pounding in my chest.

A few seconds later, he replied. Noooooiiiiiiiice. Lmk how it goes. Im sending good vibes, my man.

My belly fluttered with nerves as Seb sat back down on the couch and picked up his crossword book. I shot up out of my chair. Oh god, I couldn’t just be sitting here when he found it. I was already way too fucking nervous.

I gave him a brief smile when he glanced over. “I need to go, um… Holt asked me to… check on the bar.”

“Alright.” He smiled back at me, still none the wiser.

I strode quickly toward the door, then hesitated as I glanced back at him. Fuck, maybe I should’ve kissed him first in case this didn’t go the way I hoped. I might never get another chance.

Stomach cramping with fear, I gave him once last wobbly smile before leaving the room.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Desperate Desire (4 Letters)

Seb

I was worried about Larkin. He’d been jumpy over the last couple of days, and wondering why was making me feel a little sick.

Ever since I’d said that stuff to him… ever since I’d potentially revealed just how deep my feelings for him ran… he’d been acting off. Not cold or aloof, but nervous and distracted. I’d tried not to obsess over it, tried not to constantly ask him if he was okay, but I was worried. About him.

And what was going to happen now.

After he left the room, I exhaled and scrubbed a hand over my eyes. Holt was in his office—I could hear him on the phone in there, sweet-talking Goliaths’ merch supplier—so I settled back on the couch and opened my book to the crossword I was working on.

When a folded slip of paper fell out from between the pages and landed on my lap, I went still.