She released the knot she’d been twisting in her sweatshirt, worry swirling in her eyes. “You think I’m being silly?”
“I get being nervous. You have a good thing with Adam—you’re afraid of losing it because you value the relationship. Don’t let your worries ruin it.” The words rang hollow to my ears, but she didn’t seem to notice. Everyone always let you down. The only person I could count on not letting me down was me and, hell, even I sucked. “He’d never cheat. Talk to him, if you’re worried, and let him know how you feel.”
Her smile brightened. “You’re right, I’m being stupid. Did you want to come in and watch some TV?” She pulled the remote out of her robe pocket and waved it at me like she’d hand over control and we could watch whatever I wanted. Another reason Adam was a saint. Her bloodthirsty love for WrestleMania knew no bounds, and he never complained once, even though he was more of a nature documentary kind of guy.
“It’s been a long day. I’m headed to bed.”
“Okay, goodnight.” She waved the remote at me again.
I turned the door knob and stepped into the hall. Seconds from freedom.
“Any leads on a new roommate?”
So close. I turned as she opened the door wider. “Nothing yet. You know how hard it can be to find a good one.” More like impossible, and letting someone back into my place wasn’t high on my list of things I wanted to do right now.
“I don’t blame you. Jeannie was a fucking mess.”
My jaw dropped and a laugh escaped me. “Language, Stella.”
“She was. Get some rest, Zara. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“Will do.”
She closed the door.
I took my chance and rushed across the hall to my apartment before she changed her mind. Kicking the door behind me, I dropped my stuff. The absolute stillness and silence should’ve filled me with joy, but instead a creeping dread about what hid in the dark tightened my throat. I didn’t turn on the lights. Why blind myself with the horror show after the day I’d had?
This is what I got when I let other people help—a kick in the teeth.
No. Shower, bed, sleep. Tomorrow, I’d do it again. Three more days until we presented to Winthorpe.
This was my life now. I had one chance to pull this off and I wasn’t letting Leo steal even an ounce more of my sanity. I’d be calm, professional, and double and triple check everything he did until the account was mine.
Tomorrow the war was on. And I knew one thing for sure.
Leo Wilder wasn’t screwing me.
7
Leo
The mountain of extra spicy buffalo wings sat in the middle of the table. The flats versus mini drumstick battle had begun, with everyone staking their claim to a section of the pile. “She screamed at me like I was trying to mug her, spilled coffee all over herself and blamed me.”
Hunter waved over the waitress. “We’re going to need more blue cheese. A lot more. Put what you think is an excessive number of cups on your tray, and then double it. Not telling you how to do your job, just trying to save you a few trips.” He winked and she laughed, winking right back.
She walked away like she knew he was looking—and he absolutely was.
The bar with live music had become our go-to after games. Not only was there killer food, but the owner didn’t care when we showed up sweaty and barely presentable.
Using the muscles I hadn’t worked out in a while kept me focused and as close to sane as possible. I was an event planner now. It hadn’t been what I’d seen for myself when I’d been carted off the field on a stretcher, but neither had walking and talking, so I counted myself lucky.
Jameson slid his almost finished cup of blue cheese closer. “Leo is telling us his story and there are wings on the table. Can you concentrate and not flirt for a whole twenty seconds?”
Hunter leaned back with his patented smart-ass smile. “No, it’s genetically impossible. I’ve been tested. Do you want to see my doctor’s note?
August leaned closer to cut through the squabble. “And now you’re working with her?”
I threw down my wing. “For the next month. If I don’t get this account and more work, Felix’s company is gone. It’s all Sam has left of him. I can’t let that happen.”
Everest butted in with his ever-helpful commentary. “Weren’t you going on and on about looking for a sportscaster job? Trying to get Hunter to set you up with connections to get in there. Something about the financial well drying up?”
“I’m working on it. Hunter’s working on it.”
Hunter gave me a wing salute. “Pulling strings as we speak.” He moved his fingers through the air like a puppet master. “Is she at least cute?”
Cute. I rolled the word over in my mind. The way her skirt skimmed across her thighs, the shoes with the high thin heels. Those were legs a guy couldn’t not notice. “She’s got great legs, but she’s also got a serious shrew vibe.” No longer bathed in a cloud of annoyance at her presence, I could see how someone might think she was cute. Faintly red hair, mossy green eyes. If it weren’t for her inability to drop the scowl, someone might even confuse her for pretty. Maybe even more, but I couldn’t afford distractions right now.
August stole some fries. “Does that mean you get to tame her?”
Hunter leaned back in the booth opposite me, trying to get the server’s attention by “subtly” flexing his biceps. “I’m sure those legs will look wonderful when she’s standing over your charred body after she figures out you have no experience whatsoever.”
“I planned killer parties in high school. What about the day before spring break senior year?” If you gave people good food—and even better, alcohol—no one was complaining about anything.
Jameson clutched his stomach. “Killer was right. I had my head out the window the whole drive down the shore the next morning.”
August blew the paper off his straw in Jameson’s direction. No one walking by would mistake us for guys only halfway to thirty, but something about hanging with old friends made reverting to those childhood roles so easy. “What are you moaning about? I was the one who had to clean the puke up before it peeled the paint off the walls.”
The server came back with a tray practically swimming in blue cheese.
“Thanks, darling,” Hunter’s slight drawl amped up whenever he got his way.
I’d seen women punch guys for less than a darling, but the server was practically glowing. Her cheeks turned red and none of us missed the neatly folded napkin shoved into Hunter’s hand.
August shook his head. “Do you emit a pheromone? Or have hypnosis skills we don’t know about?”
“It’s called game. And I’ve got a football field’s worth of it.”
Everest’s head popped up. “Is that where Leo’s went?”
My fingers tightened around my beer bottle. His perfect white teeth wouldn’t be so straight when he picked them up off the floor.
“Everest…” Jameson went full-on Dad Mode with his chiding, which made me feel a hair better. “Everyone will eat their wings, drink their beer, and have a great night, dammit. I only get one of these a week. Don’t make me find new friends.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and served up a searing sigh.