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“What?” Brooks looks up from his phone, confused as to why we’re all staring at him. “I’ve got shit to do.”
We all watch as he stands and walks toward the hall leading to his office.
“Did he just—”
“No,” Finnegan says, interrupting Kit. “He was talking about something on his phone. I’m certain it was work related. Brooks is as straight as they come.”
“He does get more tail than anyone else up here,” Gaige agrees. “Where’s that stupid bird?”
“Puff went home with Wren after that shit went down with Hayden,” I explain.
We all hauled ass to help Quinten, and thankfully I was the one able to grab Hayden from behind, trying to restrain her until we could get her blindfold off. I shake my head, trying to get out the sight of her on her knees with a gun pointed at her.
I completely understand the other guys’ reactions. I felt it in my gut as well, but Parker isn’t here, and what I needed in that moment, she isn’t willing to give me. You don’t hold a girl you’re just having fun with after a moment like that. Someone you were having casual sex with shouldn’t even pop into your head unless it was because you felt an urge to burn off some residual adrenaline.
“I think Brooks was right,” Kit says. “Love is for idiots.”
“Having to go through the shit Quinten went through today?” Gaige says with a shake of his head. “No thanks. That’s why I’m going to stay single forever.”
Finnegan grins. “Who’s going to take care of you when you get too old to wash your balls?”
“I’ll pay a pretty little nurse to do it for me,” he answers as if he has it all planned out.
“That’s sexual harassment,” I mutter. “You’ll spend your life savings on civil lawsuits.”
“Old people get away with saying whatever they want. People just laugh and think they’re senile,” Gaige says. “And I said she’d wash my balls, not clean them with her mouth.”
“Speaking of ball cleaning, Wren mentioned you were a virgin,” Kit begins. “Does that mean you never had a mouth on your nuts either?”
He asks the question with sincerity, genuinely wanting to know, but I’m not having this conversation with these guys. I didn’t want to have it when it was Quinten, Brooks, and Wren either.
“One of the best things in the world,” Gaige says as if he can feel something similar right now.
“I’m not talking about my sex life,” I mutter as I stand from the couch and walk away.
All three of them laugh at me as I make my way to the elevator.
Chapter 26
Parker
I’ve glared at my phone for the last two days, but the text Jude sent just will not disappear.
I’ve spoken with Hayden, and I know what happened. I know she was kidnapped and held hostage for an hour. She cried when she told me about her fears and how it made her realize that she loved Quinten, but the conversation didn’t last long. Quinten came on the line and told me she’d call me back when she was in a better place.
I know now that Quinten was there for my best friend, both when the shooting happened at the office and again when she was abducted. He is her rock, and if this were a romance movie, then that would make perfect sense. The hero always comes out of the woodwork to save the day, but there’s no gallant hero in my world.
Not even the Just wanted to make sure you’re okay after what happened to Hayden text from Jude makes me believe that he’s that person for me.
My phone rings, and I nearly clap, giddy with the distraction when I see Hayden’s name light up the screen.
“Are you doing better?” I ask instead of answering with a traditional hello.
“Much,” she answers, and even the lightness in her tone has improved from when I spoke with her last.
“I know you probably don’t want to go into detail, but eventually I’m going to want to hear about it.”
“I know, but I’m calling with good news!”
“You’re pregnant.”
“What? No. I’m getting married!”
“Wow, that’s… awesome?”
“Why did that sound like a question?”
“It wasn’t. I mean, it’s just—”
“It’s quick, I know, but I love him, Parker.”
I smile even though she can’t see it. “That’s amazing, Hayden. I’m so glad you’ve found your special someone.”
My selfish heart clenches, afraid I’m going to lose what little part of her I have. Hayden has been my only rock, the only person I’ve allowed myself to rely on, and I feel a pang of jealousy that Quinten may get parts of her that will pull her away from me.
“I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“Of course,” I accept because it’s what friends do.
“Really?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I just know you aren’t big on relationships.”
“I’m not interested in relationships for myself,” I say. My chest clenches like I’m telling her a lie. “I’m happy to see others happy.”
