?Chapter 164:


    “What’s on your mind?” Eric cast a sidelong nce her way. “Hey, there’s a bag in the back. Can you get it?”


    “What’s inside?”


    “You’ll find out when you see it. Why the twenty questions?”


    “Fine.”


    Hadley swung around, reached back to the rear seat, and opened the bag.


    She stopped when she saw what was inside.


    When Hadley peeked inside the bag, her brows furrowed. Lollipops? She puzzled over it, wondering if the whirlwind of the night—the chaos, the excitement, the relentless twists—had finally scrambled her senses.


    “What are you zoning out for?” Eric nced at her briefly, his toneced with casual impatience. “Open one.”


    Did he want one for himself?


    Hadley gave a small nod. “Alright.”


    She reached into the bag, pulled one out, peeled off the wrapper, and held it out to him. “Here.”


    Eric’s lips curled into the faintest smirk.


    “Why are you handing it to me?”


    Huh? Hadley blinked in surprise. If not for him, then for whom? He was the one who told her to open it. Now he didn’t want it? Was he just toying with her?


    Eric let out a soft sigh, catching the baffled expression on her face. He leaned in, plucked the lollipop from her grasp, and murmured, “Open your mouth.”


    “Huh?” Hadley’s lips parted slightly in confusion.


    Even so, Eric seized the moment. With deliberate ease, he ced the lollipop between her lips.


    Hadley’s mind scrambled. What was going on here?


    Eric chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction.


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    For once, there were no barbed words or sharp exchanges between them. And when he smiled like that, with the ghost of boyish mischief flickering in his eyes, he seemed almost innocent. He gave her a nod. “How is it? Sweet?”


    Hadley hesitated, swallowed, and then nodded slowly, her expression dazed. “Yeah.”


    “So good it’s got you speechless?”


    Eric nced at her, his voice teasing. “What, nning to enjoy the whole stash by yourself? There’s a whole bag, you know. Shouldn’t you unwrap one for me too?”


    So, he did want one after all?


    Hurriedly, Hadley grabbed another, peeled it open, and held it up to his lips.


    Eric hummed under his breath before leaning down to take a bite.


    The sugary taste hit his tongue, and he frowned slightly. What was so special about this? It was just sugar—something only kids would lose their minds over.


    Then again, Hadley was young enough to be swept up in such small joys.


    It made sense she liked it.


    “Last time, I tossed your lollipop.” Eric’s tone carried a hint of regret. “You gave me hell for it. So, here—I’m making amends with a whole bag, all different vors. Happy now?”


    This was his way of apologizing?


    Hadley was too stunned to respond at first.


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