“Wait… they’re free, right?”
“Of course,” I said smoothly, even though it wasn’t technically true.
Champagne wasn’t complimentary. But I’d decided long ago it was easier if Carmen believed the world just magically became complimentary when she started dating me.
She didn’t keep track of receipts anyway.
Her phone buzzed, and immediately she checked it. A small smile appeared as her fingers flew across the screen.
I closed the camcorder screen with a pout. “Busy?”
She glanced up briefly, then looked back down at the screen. “Nah. Just texting Marcus.”
Something twisted low in my gut.
I’m sorry,whois she texting?
“Marcus?”
“Yeahhh,” she dragged the word out, like it was absurd I even questioned it.
“Why the fuck are you texting Marcus Avery?”
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Her face scrunched up instantly, full of disgust. “Do I look like someone who would be textingMarcus fucking Averyof all people?”
I blinked. “Then who?”
“MarcusDazai?Myboss?”
The boss you don’t officially work with for another two weeks?
“And when did‘Mr. Dazai’become‘Marcus’?” I asked sharply. “And why are you texting him? Are emails not the primary way you two communicate?”
“It’s not like that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “We’re… friends? We talk all the time.”
“All the time?” I repeated.Calm down. “What’s‘all the time’exactly?”
She shrugged, casual as hell. “You know. We text, call sometimes, grab lunch.”
“Youwhat?”
Whatever was on my face must’ve given me away, because she raised a brow, lips twitching like she was two seconds from calling me an idiot.
“It’s harmless,” she said, raising her hands defensively. “We talk about work, and he gives me advice on stuff.”
“Advice like what?”
Carmen exhaled slowly, as if she were the one being patient here. “Theodore, we’re only friends. Maybe less than that. He’s like a mentor to me.”
I ignored the last part because the word friend should never be used when she’s describing another man.
“The power dynamic between you two is too far apart for that,” I said, not backing down.
Her eyes narrowed, and the easygoing vibe disappeared.
“Is that really it? Or are you worried it might lead to something more? ‘Cause it’s not if that’s what you’re thinking.”
