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“Yes, he told me about the engagement, and that’s why I want to wait.” He stroked my thigh up and down. “He’s going to propose, and I want to wait until after the party before I… we tell her. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“Okay.”
“For now, let’s get you home and pampered before you sleep.”
11
JUST AN ASSISTANT
JAMES
Last night replayed in my mind like a scene in a movie. Now, I was doing my best to focus on my workout, lifting the gym’s heaviest dumbbells in front of the gym mirror, with Vincenzo leaning on a pillar close by, arms folded and staring at me. My brain was running circles about last night and the way Maddie looked this morning, lying peacefully in bed before I snuck out of her apartment so as not to disturb her.
“So, what you’re saying is, you didn’t end it, you now have a sub, and you carved a J into her that’ll be there for the rest of her life?” he asked my reflection. “What happens when you move on from her one day and settle down with another woman?”
“That won’t happen at this point.”
“Is she both to you, then? You’re blurring the lines into a monogamous vanilla relationship as well?”
“We haven’t discussed more yet, which is why I’m not ready to tell anyone but you. And I wouldn’t have even done that if you hadn’t already called me out on it.” I counted my last four bicep curls and set the weights back on the rack. Placing my hands on my hips, I let out a defeated breath when I turned to face him. “Vin—”
He lifted a hand. “You don’t have to explain it to me, but Eliza’s going to lose her damn mind either way.”
“Will she, though?”
He arched his brow, crossing his arms again, mocking, “Sweetheart, this is my submissive, or sweetheart. I’m dating your best friend, either way.” He chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t see it going as well as you do, apparently.”
“Number one—”
“Shit, here we go.” He rolled his eyes, shifting his weight. “Attorney reasoning.”
Matching his expression, I continued, “I handled myself pretty fucking well when I caught you and Eliza, even though I wanted to murder you and lock her away.”
“But you knew you were already attracted to Maddie at that point and guilt was eating you alive about your sex dreams,” he taunted, though his words bore a deeper meaning. “God, had I known she was the one, we would’ve had a different conversation that day.”
“Yeah, which brings me to number two. When Alicia found out, I stood up for you guys. And then I took your sides in it against her, which cost me a few big headaches and slaps before she ran off with the Ken doll.”
His entertainment turned to anger as it did every time Alicia’s name came up. He was longing for the day I’d allow him to take her out. Every day, his patience for her chipped away, and he was a ticking time bomb. I was sure if she pushed him over the edge, not even Elizabeth or I, could stop him from killing her.
“All Eliza ever wants is for others to be happy. Especially me.” I sighed, picking up the weights again, and repeating my reps. “And my hope is she’ll go easy on us.”
“You, yeah.” He picked up his towel and water bottle off a nearby table. “You’ll be easy to forgive. Eliza’s always been a daddy’s girl. But she’s going to murder her best friend. And what about Eli and Tara?”
Keeping my gaze on my reflection, I gnawed the inside of my cheek, knowing he was right. I didn’t want her to lose the only friend who’s been with her since the beginning of time. And Maddie’s parents were our close friends. I’d have to be fully prepared from all angles the day shit hit the fan.
“Listen, man, it doesn’t make me mad at all. I think Maddie’s cool and if she makes you happy, I support it, but I’m not holding Eliza’s feisty ass back when she sees that J on Maddie’s hip and annihilates h—” he took his phone out of his pocket, looking at the screen. “I have to get ready and meet Dimitri in the city. Someone’s pissing the Abruzzo’s off and I’m needed.”
I returned the dumbbells back on the rack. “I have to shower and get to work, anyway.”
“See you in a bit.” He strode toward the door.
“Keep your mouth shut when you see Maddie at the office.”
“Watch it, Jamie,” he murmured as he exited.
* * *
Yes, Mr. Whitman? Maddie asked way too innocently when she answered the phone at reception.
