He let out a low whistle.
“Not gonna lie, man. Your girl’s terrifying. By the time my uncle’s attorneys showed up— it was already give us a check and this goes away—time. Small money too like thirty k. She saved my ass—dude. I owe Sage. Big time.”
Sage came over that night like nothing had happened.
Kissed my cheek. Set the food on the counter. Asked if I wanted noodles or rice.
Normal.
Soft.
Domestic.
Like she hadn’t just strong-armed a persona injury attorney into submission.
“Tony is very grateful by the way,” I took her into my arms, kissed her onto of her head and then grabbed her a plate.
“This is good,” she said lightly, munching on a noodle. “It shouldn’t go anywhere. Maybe a small settlement. Nothing public.”
Like she’d just rescheduled a dentist appointment.
I watched her move around my kitchen and felt two completely opposite things at the same time.
Relief.
And something else.
Because this was what it felt like to have someone who could fix anything.
But it was also what it felt like to realize?—
If she ever turned that same force on me…
I wouldn’t stand a chance.
CHAPTER 14
BETH
Boston felt off-kilter that week.
Not bad. Just… disconnected.
It had been a little over a week since the Hamptons. Ethan had been working nonstop. I’d been slammed too. We talked every night, checked in like adults, but there hadn’t been dates. No time. No intimacy. Just long calls and tired voices that ended withtomorrow.
Then Sage sent me an email.
It’s girls’ night. You’re coming.
She was already irritated when she picked me up.
“Ethan’s with the boys,” she said immediately, pulling away from the curb. “Rain-check poker night at Tony’s.”
She scoffed. “I don’t get it. Why do men need to get drunk together to eat gross food and act like frat boys? Then he’ll feel disgusting and go to the gym twice tomorrow to punish himself.”
I stayed quiet.
In my head:My boyfriend plays poker sometimes too.
