It hits me how much the energy between those two makes every event better. I mind my business and keep my eyes on my cards, but I notice every time EJ’s gaze lingers on Wyatt. I feel all the things he wants to say, all the apologies that he wants to offer, but Caulfield is stone cold.
It’s like EJ isn’t even here.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ariana
It’slate and I’m exhausted. I hadn’t realized that day-after parties contained so much drinking. It was an all-day and all-night activity. These Canadians need to discover new hobbies beyond socializing and alcohol. I’m ready to shower and get to bed to prepare for three, likely terrible, back-to-back flights tomorrow. I don’t even have the energy to pack, sothatwill have to wait until morning. Tomorrow-me is going to be so mad at tonight-me.
We’ve been back at the hotel for a few hours, but I spent a majority of that time chatting with my brother and Arden in their room. I only stumbled back to my room half an hour ago, after Arden fell asleep face-down on the bed and my brother begged me to stop talking.
I grab my pajamas from the foot of my bed when there’s a terribly quiet knock on my door. Frowning, I drop the clothes back on the mattress and pad to the door. It’s late. Nobody should be knocking at this hour unless it’s a booty call.
I peer out the peephole and a smile takes over my entire face.
Look who's seeking me out now.
Fluffing my hair, I adjust the pink dress that I have yet to change out of and open the door.
Boston Black, clad in a black compression shirt and gray sweats, glares at me as if I managed to offend him within the two seconds we’ve been face-to-face. His arms are across his broad chest, expression all broody and serious.
Still looks ridiculously hot.
“What a pleasant surprise.”
He glances over his shoulder like he’s about to be arrested by a SWAT team that’s hiding around the corner, waiting for him to make another misstep.
“Can we talk?”
“About?”
He shoots me a look. “Ari.”
Ah, it’s about the bathroom blowjob. Shocker.
I roll my eyes, but flatten myself against the wall, letting him pass the threshold into my room. I shut and deadbolt the door behind us, immediately heading for the bed that he’s awkwardly pacing around the foot of. I have a feeling this is not the booty call I was hoping for. This is the crash-out.
I drop myself down and wait.
He runs his hand over his face, exhausted and drunk enough to have this conversation. If I’m being honest, I have been waiting for this meltdown since I was on my knees in that bathroom. He’s later than I expected. Our short conversation at the party had foolishly tricked me into thinking it might not come at all.
“We crossed the line,” is what he finally says. He drops his hand and looks at me, green eyes wide and full of regret. Hate that. It hurts a bit, as much as I loathe to admit it. This guy has always had a little too much power over me. “I can’t do that to him, Ari.”
“Youdiddo that to him,” I remind him, and I get another glare for that one. “It’s okay, Boston. I am a great secret keeper. I told you. Nobody has to know.”
“That's not the point.”
“I wanted you and you wanted me,” I tell him, plain as day. “Who cares? That’s life. It’d be a shame to never know, wouldn’t it? Because of some imaginary rule about my brother needing to pick my suitors and pay them a dowry like I have no agency of my own.”
He groans, rolling out his shoulders. “It’s not aboutrules,it’s about respect. Your brother is one of my best friends. We work together. We take care of each other. I knew this would kill him and I did it anyway.”
I stare up at him. “Because you wanted to.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does,” I snap. “Spare me the pity party. You were not complaining when your dick was in my mouth, and you were not complaining when you flirted with me at the party today. You wanted it. You wantedme.Let’s not act like I’m some innocent virgin who you deflowered, who now has no prospects of marriage left because I’m damaged goods.”
“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbles, shaking his head. He storms forward, planting his hands on the edge of the bed. “Do you not understand that this has the power to dismantle my friendship with him, my career, andyourrelationship with your brother? Is that not clicking for you?”
