AllFreeNovel
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Our gazes meet. She smiles. A real one, teeth and eyes. There’s a catch in my chest, sharp enough to take my breath away.
Unlike my dad, she’s happy to see me.
It’s a nice feeling. One I’ve missed.
How’s it going? she mouths, giving me a little wave.
I hold my thumb up. Fine.
She’s too fucking good at this. Checking in on me.
Being cute.
Nora waves too, her other hand on her bump. I silently beg her to save me. From these feelings. From my dad. But, seeing the two of us together, she turns back to her girls.
“And because you’re so good,” Dad is saying, “I want to make sure your career, and your life, are headed in the right direction. I’ve been made aware of some Twitters that are concerning on that front,” Dad is saying.
I blink, turning to see him holding up his phone. “Tweets?”
“Yes. The Wall Street Bathroom account. They specifically name you.”
I have a Twitter account, but I barely check it. Theo was the one to tell me about the recent tweets on my sex life. “So what?”
Dad harrumphs. “So what? They’re airing your dirty laundry in public.”
I wave him away. “I don’t pay attention to that shit. If people don’t have anything better to do than gossip about me, that’s their business. No one cares, Dad.”
Thankfully Porgeous didn’t care either (he got the nickname back in college; it began as Gorgeous George, but then morphed into Porgeous after we all took a theater class on Porgy and Bess). He’d chuckled, joking that he’d cut my dick off if I ever touched his sister. I didn’t need to tell him not to worry. Greer’s off limits for a lot of reasons. The fact that she’s my friend’s little sister least among them.
I just enjoy making her smile. Taking care of her in whatever small ways I can. My way of evening the karmic scales.
Although I know I carry a debt I’ll never be able to pay off.
“I care.” He gives me a death stare, eyes wide. “The bank cares. Our reputation is already on thin ice—”
“I’m a human adult. I’m allowed to have a life.”
“Of course you are. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. First and foremost, you’re destroying your reputation with all these . . . women. I mean, who’s the muffin girl in these tweeties?”
At least he has the grace to look embarrassed. Still, my grip tightens on my beer even more. My gaze lands on Greer’s bare shoulders and back. The delicate press of her shoulder blades against her skin.
“Whoever she is, it’s not a good look for someone aiming to build a serious career in finance.”
I disagree. “That’s none of your business.”
One of the guys from that table approaches Greer, putting a hand on her shoulder. I can tell from his fratty haircut and unearned confidence he’s a dickhead. I watch, pulse thumping in my temples, as she ducks her chin and nods at something he says. They make their way to the other end of the bar. He buys her a shot. Tequila.
There’s only one reason why guys buy girls tequila shots.
I see red when she clinks her shot glass against his and downs the shot. She presses the back of her hand to her mouth as she tries to cover her wince with a laugh.
She’s fucking adorable. Sweet.
And a total target for clowns like that guy.
Be careful, I silently beg her.
I’m more confused than ever by what I’m feeling right now. Jealousy? Protectiveness? Both? Whatever the emotion is, it’s new, and its growing intensity is taking me totally off guard.
If I am jealous, I have no right to be. Here I am, buying girls beers. Getting texts from them. If I get to dick around, why can’t Greer?
“Son? Son, are you listening to what I’m saying? You need to take this seriously.”
My head is spinning. But I have to remember that while Greer is young, she’s still a grown woman. Older and wiser than Lizzie was, at any rate. Greer’s got a good head on her shoulders. She makes good choices. As long as I’ve known her, she’s had it together. Going to Chapel Hill, graduating with honors. Starting her own business right after graduation.
Maybe she wants to sleep with this guy. Or maybe she just wants to have fun on a Thursday night like any other twenty-three-year-old. The bar’s getting crowded with kids her age.
Whatever the case, it’s not my place to meddle. Or so says my therapist.
I pry my gaze from Greer and do my best to focus on Dad. “I am. Taking it seriously.”
“Good. With the bank’s leadership in upheaval, there’s a lot of opportunity for rising stars like you. Think about it, son. You could end up climbing the ranks even higher than I have if you play your cards right. But to do that, you need to have the respect of your superiors. Men like me.”
