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“Oh, god.”Jenna laughs.“What did he do now?”
The way she saysnowmakes me think Adeline’s husband is always in trouble with her.
“I shared with him last week that one of my cosmetics suppliers has been giving me hell and not fulfilling orders on time.So, what did he do with that information?”Her eyes go wide.“He bought the company and ordered them to stop supplying every other business they’ve been supplying for years and only supply me.You can imagine how much those businesses hate me now.”
Jameson Fox has a reputation for being ruthless.His wife has a reputation for being the opposite.I imagine the sparks fly a lot in their relationship, but from everything I’ve heard, Adeline is his life and he’ll go to the ends of the earth for her.It seems that’s true.
Bradford’s lips twitch with amusement.“I take it he’s not coming then.”
“No,” Adeline says.“I told him I don’t want to see him for the rest of the day.”She glances at Kristen.“I’m more than certain it’s time for cocktails.”
Kristen laughs.“You’re right.”She pats her husband’s chest.“Bradford’s making them tonight.I taught him how to make our favorite.”
I adore seeing Bradford’s happiness with Kristen.Having known him since we were kids, I’ve watched him date a lot of women and not find happiness with any of them.The closest he came was with a lawyer he was engaged to for a long time, but I knew she wasn’t the one for him because happiness never lingered in his eyes while he was with her.He confirmed that one night when we got a little drunk together.He told me he’d been in love with another woman for a long while but that it would never work out with her.I now know that woman to be Kristen.
Bradford makes cocktails and I tell him that if the Senator gig doesn’t work out for him, he could take up the mixologist life.
Kristen introduces me to everyone properly while Bradford makes the drinks.
Then, after the guys leave to talk business in Bradford’s office, the girls and I drink our cocktails while having a long conversation that weaves its way through our plans for the weekend; our love of being given flowers; our current favorite lipsticks; the book we each plan to read next; and whether Adeline should be mad with Jameson for trying to help her.We actually can’t decide on that.Not one of us.I think maybe we’ve had too many cocktails by the time we get to the Jameson discussion.
The hours fly by and I enjoy every second of them, which I wouldn’t have thought possible this afternoon when I was in the middle of a shitty day.
Just after eleven p.m., Poppy begins educating us on the importance of having an agreed-upon method with your partner for who gets to eat the last slice of pizza.
“Ooh,” Jenna says tipsily as Beckett and Bradford wander back into the room.“Like rock-paper-scissors?Or putting each other’s name in a bowl and choosing that way?Or blind, naked wrestling?Or who can make the other come first?”
Beckett gives his wife an amused look.“I think someone is ready to go home.”
I laugh, feeling light.“I like the way your brain works, Jenna.”
“What’s your method?”Kristen asks Poppy while snuggling into Bradford’s side.
“The last piece is always mine.That’s a given,” Poppy says.“But I could get on board with Jenna’s last idea.”
“I like the idea of blind, naked wrestling,” I say.
“Me too.”Callan’s voice sounds behind me and I turn faster than I’ve ever turned to look at him.
His eyes are firmly on mine.As are Gage’s who is standing next to him.
“I imagine you like the idea of blind, naked wrestling with Callan,” Gage says.
I grin while my happily-tipsy brain thinks about that.“I imagine you may be right, Gage.”
Poppy stands and reaches for her purse.“On that note, I must leave.It’s time to stop my husband from working too late and let him think he can boss me into doing filthy things to him.”
It takes her less than a minute to say goodbye and leave.I stare after her.“Wow, she means business.”
“She really does,” Adeline agrees.“And nothing gets between Poppy and sex.”
“So,” Kristen says, glancing between Callan and me as he sits next to me, “you two are together?I didn’t want to presume or ask earlier because it’s one thing to have your private news spilled all over social media without permission and another to share it when you’re ready.”
Callan extends his arm across the back of the sofa, resting his hand on my shoulder.“Yes, we’re together.”
“I’m so happy for you both,” Kristen says and I feel the genuine affection from her.
Adeline’s phone rings and she excuses herself to take the call from Jameson.When I laugh at the stern expression on her face, Callan leans in close and asks, “What’s funny?”
