?<strong>Chapter 1163:</strong>


    Philip probed, “So, how’d it go? Armando told me his daughter seems pretty interested in you.”


    Cliff shrugged. “I don’t really feel anything special.”


    Philip sighed. “What’s your type, then?”


    Without thinking, Cliff blurted out, “Miss Burke is nice, but I prefer someone mature and wise.”


    Madison chimed in, “You’re already boring enough. If you find someone mature, how dull would that be? Look at Laney, all sweet and pretty in her pink dress, so charming.”


    Laney blushed. “Madison, please don’t say that.”


    Tonight, the drinks didn’t really hit the mark. Cliff tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep for hours.


    The Hopkins family had strict rules—fooling around or having friends with benefits was not an option. While he usually kept his desires at bay, he felt an inexplicable urge tonight.


    He got up and headed to hisputer, scrolling through his usual picks. But everything seemed pretty boring.


    gα ? ησ ν?? ??s has it all


    Just as Cliff was about to turn everything off and try to sleep, his eyesnded on the cover of a woman in a pink mini-skirt. Her face was blurred, but her smooth and long legs made him think of Laney. He stared at the screen for a moment, his thoughts racing. Just as impulse surged, his sense of reason kicked in. “No, absolutely not.”


    Cliff decisively powered down hisputer, determined to banish the thoughts from his mind. Yet, the memory of that kiss from days ago lingered stubbornly in his consciousness. Laney’s kissing technique had been abysmal. She’d been like someone fumbling in the dark, searching blindly for his tongue but ending up awkwardly shing her teeth instead.


    But the memory haunted Cliff like a fever he couldn’t shake. Frustrated, he pulled on some clothes and headed out in search of ice water.


    The housey silent, its upants long since retired. Cliff grabbed a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge and drained it in one long gulp. Instead of returning to his room, he leaned against the counter, trying to clear his mind.


    Then came the soft sound of footsteps from the living room.


    Opening his eyes, Cliff spotted a slim figure moving stealthily through the darkness.


    Laney crept toward the fridge on tiptoe, ncing furtively around before extracting two cupcakes.


    Cliff recalled his mother buying those cupcakes earlier today. Laney had declined them at dinner, iming she was watching her sugar intake. For someone usually so religious about her diet, this midnight raid was out of character. She’d be regretting this for days toe.


    Cliff stood silently in the shadows, unnoticed by Laney.


    Laney took tiny bites of cake while chatting with Kailyn on the phone. “Why are you eating at this hour?” Kailyn’s voice carried clearly through the quiet kitchen. “It’s past eleven, girl.”


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