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Brianna spots me first, her eyes widening. “Zoey! I’m so glad you could make it!” she chimes.
She’s so sweet as she rushes over carrying a glass of something bubbly. “Hey, Brianna, I’m glad I could make it too. I have to admit… I am excited to see Lucas with his baby. It will be interesting watching him as a father, considering…” I trail off.
Brianna snorts out a laugh. “Considering he’s the world’s biggest kid himself? Yeah, no kidding. It’s nice that he and Paisley sorted out their shit, though. I think a happy ending for them was very much needed.”
Warmth floods my chest thinking about all the crap they went through to get to this point. “Absolutely. If anyone deserves to enjoy this, it’s those two.”
Nash steps up beside us, wrapping his arm around Brianna. “Zoey, did you happen to see if Blake was making a move from the office on your way out?”
My mind flicks to his eyes, washing over my body. The way his shirt clung to his clearly defined abs and that simple jacket toss over his shoulder.
“Zoey?” Nash asks again, snapping me out of my musing.
“Ahh… yes, sorry. Mr. Branson was leaving just after me. He was going to lock up. He should be here any sec—”
“Oh, here he is now. Good. I’m glad he arrived before Lucas and Paisley’s big entrance.” Nash starts walking off toward his co-CEO, and I let out a breath as Brianna eyes me suspiciously.
“You okay, Zoey?” she asks.
“Oh yeah, fine. Just skipped lunch today. Need to get some food into me, that’s all.”
Her eyes move from me to Blake, then back to me again. “Mm-hmm… well, as soon as Lucas makes an appearance, we will order food. Marcel makes a mean gumbo!”
“So I’ve heard. Can’t wait.”
Brianna wraps her arm around mine. “C’mon, come meet the gang.”
CHAPTER THREE
Zoey
Upon entering the room, my eyes widen—more people are here than I anticipated.
Brianna leads me over to them. I’ve heard a ton about the group the guys always hang out with at the bar. They all went to college together and have remained such good friends. To be honest, I’ve always been a little envious of this group.
Because of Kyle, I was denied the chance to make lifelong friends at college like this amazing group has done. I was only there for a year before I had to withdraw because I fell pregnant. Certainly, not long enough to make lasting impressions on people for them to want to take time out of their busy schedules to come and see a pregnant dropout.
I get it.
I made that choice.
But seeing how these people made something of their lives always makes me have that small seed of jealousy for the life I could have had if I hadn’t bent to Kyle’s whim. So, plastering on a fake smile, I walk with Brianna over to the group who are sitting, laughing, and generally causing a ruckus.
“Guys, this is Zoey. Nash’s PA.”
They all smile brightly.
“So you’re the brains behind the brawn?” one of the women chimes with a huge smirk.
Letting out a small laugh, I shrug. “I don’t know about that, but I help Mr. Harrington the best I ca—”
“Bullshit! You run that joint. Without you, Zoey, Nash would be on his knees, sucking all the big wigs’ cocks to get ahead.”
“Jesus, Dane, enough with the vivid interpretations, please,” the same girl berates the guy I now know is called Dane.
“Tahlee, my sweet, I adore you. You’re one of my best friends, but when have youeverknown me not to be vivid with my…interpretations?”
Tahlee groans, rolling her eyes as another girl sits forward. “Ignore them… they banter like this all the time. Hey, I’m Cleo, the sensible one.” She sticks out her hand for me to shake.
