Forgiving Love | rewrite

Dead Serious

Hey! Quick info upfront: I've decided to write some explicit scenes for this book. They will appear in my Explicit Chapters book. However, reading the smut isn't necessary to continue this story. I will mark the chapters with steamy scenes so you can read the mature content if you wish to.

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"Care to introduce me to your companion?" My words come out bitter, although I have zero claim over Leigh. And there's no reason for my heart to miss a beat when Leigh awkwardly glances at the brunette beside him.

Why on Earth would I want a freaking introduction to his whatever she is. I'm the one who's made it super clear we don't need to know anything about each other. I didn't even want to know his middle name when he was about to tell me. Once, he asked if I liked dogs, and I declined to answer; I said he would immediately know what type of person I was if I told him.

Leigh clears his throat and throws me an apologetic smile. I'm not fond of it.

"This is Eva, my date." An ugly emotion runs through my veins, making my blood boil, and I regard the beautiful woman next to Leigh with curiosity.

They look like they've walked out of a photo shoot for a fashion magazine. Leigh is devastatingly handsome in his suit, and Eva has a long red gown that perfectly hugs her curves. She looks like a supermodel with her tiny frame, and I despise her generous smile. It screams, "It's lovely to meet you."

I'm wearing my black jeans and my favorite sweater. Granted, I love my style, but I pale before Eva, quite literally. The beautiful hue of her olive skin mocks my white arms. Not that I compare myself to her, because why would I? I'm not interested in Leigh. I've been very straightforward about it from the beginning. And no one cares that he's funny—I love his jokes—or very charming. He is also great at sex, which is probably the only reason I'm thinking of these things because it would be a shame never to feel his body again.

Yes, that's it. I'm bummed I can't have sex with him.

"Lovely to meet you," I beat her at it. "I'm Vivianne, Leigh's... friend."

"Nice to meet you," Eva beams, either clueless or the best actor I've seen. The tension that follows makes me squirm in my seat.

"Are you with someone?" Leigh abruptly asks, his tone way too clipped.

"Nope," I pop my lips on the p, smiling sweetly. "All by myself."

I hate that I'm alone. I'd hate to be with Liam, but I would pay him actual money to be here with me, and I don't get it. What the hell is the matter with me?

"Have you been to Leigh's restaurant before? Or is this your first time?" Eva, the date, asks me. My focus shifts to her, and I blink at her, dumbfounded.

"I'm sorry, what?" My attention snaps back to Leigh. "Is this your restaurant?"

Leigh seems uncomfortable, or no, better; he seems like he wants the ground to crack open beneath his feet so he can disappear without a trace.

He checks his watch, and his lips settle on a grim expression.

"Yes, but I'm very sorry. It's an emergency, and I had to come by. I need to get moving. Eva?" He says her name expectedly, nodding towards the kitchen.

"Oh, you go! I can wait here with Vivianne," Eva replies.

Leigh observes me silently, and he doesn't have to ask it out loud for me to understand he's checking if I'm okay. I would flip him off if I had any guts, but I give him a polite nod since I'm a coward.