She pauses like she can’t quite find the words to describe what she’s trying to say. “Awesome,” I suggest because most people think Bastian’s loft is.
“Very New York, actually. I mean ten times the size of any SoHo loft I’ve ever seen, but it’s spot on. Industrial chic.”
I burst into a cackling laugh. “That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“What’s so funny,” Jax asks as we take a seat next to him.
“Tori just called this place chic.” Jax joins right in on my cajoling, unable to contain himself at the word chic and Bastian in the same zip code. Our laughter doubles when Bastian and Rory walk into the space. They look at us like we’re insane before Rory gives us the finger and Bastian calls us a couple of ‘testa di cazzo’s’.
The other girls are noticeably absent from this meeting. I’m sure Layla gave Rory hell. Zoey, I know, isn’t happy about not knowing what’s going on with her friend. Verity is probably the only one more than happy to be left out of the loop. She doesn’t want to see Chicago or anything from there ever again.
“Rory, man,” I start because I’m an ass, “you look like total shit, man.”
But he doesn’t even flinch. The fucker just leans back in the chair with a smile as his eyes fall closed. “Sophie doesn’t sleep on a great schedule yet,” he says. “Fuck, I wish I hadn’t missed out on all of this with Bella, but I’m damn glad I’m here for Sophie.”
I smile at him. He deserves to be happy. They all do. Fuck, if I do too.
But happiness isn’t something that falls in your lap. It’s something you have to look for and fight for. It’s not something that just happens. You have to make it happen. You have to take it.
And dammit I’m going to fight for my fucking happy until the last battle is won. I’m going to fight for Tori’s happy until it’s all that’s left to grab.
Starting with this shit with her sister and the fucking douche bags trying their best to take our happy.
The elevator begins to make noises signaling that the rest of the appointed crew will be walking through the door any second. “How are we working this out?” I ask before they get here. “I mean how much are we telling them.”
“We can’t hold out on them. They can’t do their jobs if they don’t have all the information available,” Rory lets me know with a glare.
“I wasn’t suggesting holding out on them, asshole. I just didn’t know if you wanted them to know everything. Like Cara or even Tori’s part in all of this. Or Rossi for that matter.”
“Watch the attitude, Zane,” he growls low at me.
I laugh again. This time at him. “When are you going to figure out you don’t scare me, Rory. You didn’t scare me when I was eight. Why the fuck would you scare me now?”
“I’m not trying to scare you,” he folds his arms across his chest with his brows furrowed deep between his eyes.
“No. But you want me to fall in line, and I don’t do that either.”
“Calm down,” Jax bellows.
“Both of you,” Bastian adds.
Rory and I continue to glare at each other for several more second. There is absolutely no other purpose to this standoff other than he is the boss but I’m not his underling like the others.
“I said that’s enough,” Jax yells, making us both jump.
Bastian and Rory look to him in surprise but I’m not. Jax is the quiet one for the most part. He doesn’t say a lot about many things. But he has a quiet authority about him. I wouldn’t let him tell me what to do any more than Rory, but something about Jax always has everyone falling in line.
Truthfully, Jax would have made a fantastic boss. Probably better than Rory but I don't think he would ever have considered it. Jax may be a part of River City mafia but his one and only priority is Zoey. Nothing will ever mean more to him than her except the two babies she's carrying.
The others walk off the elevator to see Jax standing between Rory and me. Their eyes bounce off of each of us while Bastian continues to sit in his chair sipping on his tequila. He is radiating amusement and a little pride that I can sense is aimed at Jax and me. Pride that the two of us don’t bow or bend to anyone else’s will. Not even him or Rory.
“Did we miss something?” Christian speaks first.
“No,” we all say in unison.
That’s what breaks the tension. It’s what breaks the standoff as we smile at each other. And honestly what probably keeps Jax from kicking both our asses because if anyone can, it’s him.
We break everything down for them, letting Tori explain parts that are better heard from her perspective. “One more thing,” Tori says giving me a sheepish smile that tells me I know I’m not going to like what’s coming. “The last text he sent says he wants me there for another meet and greet like before. Where he parades me around like some zoo animal on display.”
