AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Everything is perfect,” I tell him, watching the basketball player heading our way. Damn, he’s so tall that the urge to crane my neck is overwhelming even at a distance. But so I don’t make my ruse obvious, I focus on Robert. He’ll do exactly what I need him to without any prompting from me.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
“Sometimes it’s nice sitting back and letting the boss do the work,” I chuckle, watching as his stare flits in the direction of Warner and Lacie.
It seems like a lifetime before Callum walks past our table, and as I’d fucking prayed, Robert lights up. He’s naturally a Mallards fan, being a Manhattanite all his life. Something I found out in the last part of his book I read through.
“Callum Warner?” he croons, sitting back in his chair and picking up his drink like he’s king of the castle.
“Robert Rhodes,” Warner sings backtracking in his steps. I feel him pause behind me, his long shadow cast over me like the most blessed shade.
They banter back and forth, Warner coming closer with his soft booming voice. And behind him stands Lacie. She’s got her eyes narrowed on me like she’s got me all worked out. Which she has, but in my defense, she told me to work like all the other agents, and a staged encounter like this is exactly what they would do.
I smile at her, ignoring the fact that we’re in this awkward place, and with a sigh and roll of her eyes, she smiles back. She’s pissed, but she misses me more. And it’s really taking everything in me not to jump her with a hard hug. As calm as I’m trying to appear on the outside, on the inside I’m a wreck. Everything hurts with the distance between us. We’ve always joked that in another life we’d be lovers, and this ache in my chest is a pang I never imagined having. Not for her. My soul sister.
“Here, let me introduce you two.” Robert takes my hand across the table, holding it up to Warner in offering. “This is Ava Monroe. Miss Monroe is one of the editors over at Coldwell Press.”
I offer him the broadest smile I can muster, and with a wave of my fingers, I say, “Hi.”
Robert tells him all about the wonders I’m working on his book. At one point he calls me an angel, something I’m really not. At least not anymore. I don’t have to say anything; I sit quietly while he sells me.
“You have to join us.” Robert waves over at a passing waiter and asks him to join the table beside us to ours.
It all happens very quickly, escalating beyond my intention or prediction.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself,” Lacie grumbles, but there’s a pursed smile on her lips. “How did you know we were coming here?”
Side-glancing at her, I shrug with a proud grin. “You told me to work for it like everyone else, right?”
“Smart-ass.” She palms my face with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.
“Wait.” Warner breaks away from his conversation with Robert and asks, “Do you know each other?”
I look at Lacie, and when she rolls her eyes, I tell him, “Since kindergarten.”
“That’s cool. I don’t have any friends that go that far back.”
“Ava is a boil on my ass.”
“Lacie is…” I pause, trying to come up with something witty, but Damon’s stare from across the room scrambles me, and all I can come up with is “Lacie.”
“She is kinda special,” he chortles, hanging his forearm on the back of her chair.
“That’s one way to put it.”
“Shut up!” Lacie kicks me under the table with a genuine laugh.
It’s sort of a pity that when Damon returns, she becomes snarky even through her professionalism.
By the time we leave, it’s surprising we have a personal invite from Callum to watch the Mallard’s next home game, because the vibes Lacie puts out are anything but inviting.
Lacie makes her excuses to leave soon after Warner, and once we’ve put Robert in a cab, Damon walks with me the few blocks to Central Park.
We’re both quiet; I’m not really sure what to say after his remark when we left the office. And as always, Lacie saves me from the awkwardness.
BBF
I miss you. xox
