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Chapter 26 - Ace

Author: Bryant
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-24 19:11:15
I barely slept. Goose snored, curled up against my ribs like he didn’t have a care in the world, but my brain wouldn’t shut off. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Carolina at the table, cheeks tight, smile forced, her cousin tossing sugar-coated barbs like it was a sport.

Bia.

She was the kind of person I’d spent most of my life avoiding, the spotlight chasers, the ones who treated everything like a stage. It didn’t matter where they were. People like Bia wanted eyes on them. And when she hadn’t gotten mine, she’d sharpened her attention on Carolina instead.

I hadn’t given her an ounce of interest. Instead, I kept my focus on Carolina, the way Goose did when she scribbled in that notebook of hers like the world depended on it. But I wasn’t blind. I saw the way Bia’s smirk lingered when she thought Carolina wasn’t watching. The way her questions dug like needles.

And Carolina… she laughed, she brushed it off, but she was rattled.

The last thing she needed was someone in her own fa
Bryant

At least he is putting Bia in her place when and how he can. Too bad he can't manage that with Kearns.

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Comments (5)
goodnovel comment avatar
Jade Orchid
Bia and Kearns are 2 peas in a pod. Ace needs to take Carolina out on another date without Bia unless he can get another single firefighter to escort Bia as a double date distraction.
goodnovel comment avatar
Karina Vazquez
I thought Ace was going to take her on a date. It would be nice for them to be on their own even if only a few hours.
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Kim Homer Grimm Krupa
agreed absolutely terrifying
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