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“That’s a pretty safe bet.”
“Which is why you can’t go.”
I huff a laugh. “I’m not leaving you alone with him, especially if he’s up to something.”
“But what if it’s to hurt you somehow?”
“It probably is.”
Her brows pinch, and I plant a kiss to soothe them.
“Whatever he has planned is just the latest ploy in his scheme. He probably doesn’t know we’re onto him, so we have the advantage of going in prepared.”
She settles back, drawing my hand to her lips. “It’s not right,” she whispers.
“No. None of this is.”
“What are we going to do?”
“About what?”
“About everything?”
I sigh and study the far wall. “I don’t know, but we’re doing it together.”
20—INDIANAPOLIS (CLUB D LUX)
LARINDA
It takes exactly four seconds to realize this is a double date.
Sort of.
I’m not sure what it’s called when one pretend couple is on a date with a nonexistent throuple. Val is sandwiched between Coriander and Sage on the couch perpendicular to Jarvis and me in our private VIP section of Club D Lux. Interestingly, my fake fiancé has seemed more interested in the other “couple” than me since leaving the hotel. I’m fine with that, except for the piece of my heart that’s reaching for Val.
In addition to looking uncharacteristically dapper in a black button-up shirt he should definitely wear more often, he’s also been the perfect gentleman since we climbed into the limo. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s actually been enjoying the company of his surprise dates, including the present conversation about the difference between snails and slugs and why it’s a travesty that more people either are or are not talking about it.
“How do we know slugs don’t have shells, though?” Sage asks.
“Because look at them!” Coriander argues.
“Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You know, like rain. Maybe it’s teeny tiny. Or invisible. Hummingbirds have wings even though you can’t see them.”
Val’s brow furrows as he works out how to mediate a debate he can’t follow.
“Would you care for another mint?” Chad asks, bending low to offer us a handful of individually wrapped mints. Did I mention Chad is also in attendance as Jarvis’ “valet”? I honestly can’t tell whose idea it was or who’s benefiting the most from the odd arrangement, but he’s been hovering beside him all night, dutifully waiting to serve his… I’m not sure. Employer? Friend? Idol? I’m not entirely clear on their relationship at this point.
Jarvis waves him away, and Chad straightens again to wait for something.
“Gotta say. I never saw this coming,” Jarvis says to me.
“What?”
“That.” He motions toward the other couch where the argument has escalated into… charades? I can’t tell which of them is the slug and which is the snail, but that fact is probably proving someone’s point.
“They look good together, don’t you think?” Jarvis asks.
“Slugs and snails would rule the world if they overcame their differences and joined forces.”
