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I give her a knowing look. “No, when I walk.”

She draws back and playfully pinches my side. “Eww, Bronson’s my brother, you sicko. I don’t need to know what you two get up to behind closed doors.”

I grimace, then smirk. “Sorry.”

“You two look happy, though,” she admits.

“We are.” My eyes dart to Bronson as he hugs his mother, wishes her a happy birthday, before leaning across the table to shake Callum’s hand. “Mum, this is Rose,” he says. “My girlfriend.”

“Wow, we didn’t see that one coming,” Callum adds sarcastically.

His mother laughs. “Why is that so funny?” Bronson asks.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Rose,” Mrs Kingsley says, pulling me in for a warm hug.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I reply, handing her the gift bag I’m holding. “Happy birthday.”

We all take a seat before Bronson’s mother addresses his earlier question. “Violet told me the extraordinary lengths you went to get Rose back in your life. The oranges were hilarious.”

“I thought we were going to have to add a citrus budget to the annual accounts,” Callum chimes in.

“Shut up, idiot,” Bronson snaps.

“Now, now, boys,” Mrs Kingsley says. “Now that everyone is here, should we order?”

“I’m still waiting for someone,” Violet replies.

“Who?” Callum asks with a frown.

“Greg.”

“Who the fuck is Greg?” he asks.

“My date.”

“Oh, is he the note guy?” I ask.

“What note guy?” Bronson and Callum ask in unison.

“No,” Violet replies, ignoring them and addressing me. “We hooked up a few weeks ago. It was just one time because he’s been busy starting up a new business. I texted and asked him if it was him leaving me notes. He said it wasn’t, but we ended up going out again.”

“You invited a hookup to your mother’s birthday lunch?” Callum growls. “Very classy, Vi.”

“That’s rich coming from a man with a revolving door of women on rotation.”

“Do you see any of them sitting here?” he deadpans.

Violet arches a brow. “What’s wrong, Callum? Jealous?”

“Hardly,” he scoffs.

I side-eye Bronson and find him glaring at his best friend. I wonder if he’s thinking about what I told him last night. Is he seeing what I’m seeing now?

Violet glances down at her phone when it dings. “He’s here. He’s parking the car.” She pushes her chair back and stands. “I’ll be right back.”

She returns a few minutes later, and I watch Callum glance in their direction before picking up the menu and staring down at it as though it’s personally offended him.

“This is Greg, everyone,” Violet says before pointing to us individually. “Rose, my brother’s girlfriend. My brother Bronson. My Mum, Loretta, but everyone calls her Lotti.” Her hand drops down by her side as she flicks her chin towards Callum. “And that’s my brother’s best friend.”