Page 29 of Trial and Error

The blond guy she points to is dancing wildly to the song playing and the other is nursing his beer, looking at the room like he’s trying to find an escape room, and I can’t say I blame him.

Before I can say anything, a hand clamps down on my shoulder, and I turn my head to see Zac and Avery, the two of them looking at Bridget skeptically.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Eli?”

Bridget waves shyly, still keeping one hand interlocked with mine. “I’m Bridget.” They continue to look at her like they’re unsure, so she clears her throat and says, “Elias’s fiancée.”

The worrisome look on Zac’s face turns into one of excitement as he claps my back enthusiastically. Avery appears at the other side and pushes me out of the way before pulling Bridget into her arms. “You’re so pretty.” She beams. “My cousin did good! I’m Avery, by the way.”

The two girls laugh as they start chatting. Zac punches my side playfully and winks. “Man, she’s fucking hot,” he says. “If you hadn’t already bagged her, I’d shoot my shot.”

I roll my eyes, but can’t ignore the wave of anger that explodes in my chest at the thought of someone trying it on with her. I have no claim on her, and the thought of other men hitting on her and appreciating how beautiful she is shouldn’t irritate the hell out of me—but it does. It makes my skin crawl as I visualize another man pawing at her. The only hands that should be on her are mine, and mine only.

“I’m Zac,” he introduces himself to her, kissing the back of her hand, and I smile at the way Avery rolls her eyes. “If you ever get bored of this old man, then give me a call. I can show you a good time.”

Bridget looks at him for a moment before she bursts out laughing. Moving away from Avery, she curls into my side and places her hand on my chest. “As flattered as I am, I’m more than happy with Eli.”

My arm wraps around her waist and I pull her closer into me. I drop a kiss to her temple and look at Zac with a teasing smirk. “Better luck next time, bud.”

Avery frowns. “Wait, Eli said you were out of town?”

My hand squeezes at her waist, and I hope she takes the hint and pulls me out of the quicksand I’ve found myself in with this white lie. “I was,” she says, “but I came back early for my co-worker’s celebratory drinks. He just got promoted.” Bridget looks up at me. “I told you this.”

The little challenge she throws my way shouldn’t have my dick twitching in my pants, but the little teasing and coy smirk that plays on her lips is a sexy as hell. “You did.” I look over at my cousins. “My bad. My memory is terrible these days.”

Avery nods in understanding. “Yeah, well, you are thirty now, so it’s to be expected.”

Bridget laughs, and Avery lights up at the recognition.

We stay standing like this for a few more moments before the blond Bridget is with bounds over with a seductive smile on his face. “Well, hello handsome.” He beams at me. “Who might you be?”

“He’s Bridget’s fiancé,” Avery comments, and his eyes widen.

His gaze narrows in on Bridget and the guy behind him also does the same. She shakes her head and smiles tightly, as if to say I’ll tell you later, and then looks at us. “If you’ll excuse us for a moment, we’ll be right back.”

She gives my waist a squeeze before peeling away from me almost reluctantly. I watch as the three of them slink away through the crowd. Avery and Zac wrap their arms around me and Zac hoots loudly.

“Let’s get the drinks in,” Avery hollers. “Tonight we’re celebrating your engagement!”

Oh, boy.

bridget

“Spill,” Lewis says as he runs a hand to smooth out his blond hair while Michael sips his beer, eyes locked on me.

I met Michael four years ago when I started at my job, and we’ve been work besties since. Lewis started eighteen months after me and turned our duo into a trio. They make work more bearable, and for that I am thankful.

Michael scratches at his overgrown beard and winces. “Since when do you have a fiancé?”

I tilt my head back and rest it against the wall, the two of them cornering me. I groan and close my eyes, wishing there was a way to transfer the tale of events into their heads without actually having to verbalize them, because saying it out loud makes me sound crazy—and I don’t need to feel crazier than I already do.

“It’s complicated,” I mumble, looking between the two of them, who are waiting for an answer. So, in the simplest way possible, I tell them.

Michael exhales loudly and a small chuckle passing through his lips. He lifts the frosty glass to his lips and shakes his head. “I swear…” His blue eyes meet mine. “You’re one of a kind.”

Lewis pinches the bridge of his nose and holds out his hand in front of me. “Girl, you’re fucking crazy,” he gasps out. “Did you get dropped on your head as a baby?”

I laugh. “Probably.”