“In your dreams.” I give a breathy laugh, and the words aren’t even fully out of my mouth before I feel Jack relax again.
It makes me want to giggle and kick my feet and scream into my pillow.
Stu must have zero sense of self preservation, because his response causes me to chuckle and Jack to heave a throw pillow at his head. “Every night, pretty girl.”
The rest of the evening passes with me trying to leave several times and Jack insisting that I stay for multiple card games, which I assume is what old dudes do for fun these days because I’ve never played a game of rummy before in my life until tonight.
Ezra's reserved and moody demeanor is day and night from Stu's unpredictable and freakinghyperpersonality. Jack, on the other hand, seems to fall somewhere in between the two and they both seem endlessly entertained by him, as if he's a playful puppy they adopted somewhere along the way, but I suppose that is how a lot of friend groups fall into place.
It’s close to midnight when they finally say their goodbyes. I wave them off and head to the upstairs bathroom. There are multiple on the main floor, but I can never resist checking in on Sienna one last time. I need to take the longest breath I can before heading home myself. I have not peopled this much for a really long time, and I am peopledout.
I lean against the cold wall next to baby girl’s bedroom door, regather myself, then head back downstairs.
15
A TORTURE I’M WILLING TO ENDURE
JACK
I wonderif she’ll try and bolt once the guys leave, but I could use one last drink and I’m guessing she could too. She seems to be just as drained from social gatherings as I tend to be.
I quickly put Kronk in his crate for the night. He gives me a sad puppy look that tells me he expects the bed treatment indefinitely and I feel a pang of guilt. Tomorrow I’ll hook him up with a fillable chew toy stuffed with dog-safe peanut butter as penance. “Not tonight, buddy.”
When I’m back in the kitchen, I hear her footsteps descending the creaky stairs, and I call out her name to let her know where to find me. When she enters the room, I already have two glasses of wine poured and sitting next to Sienna’s treat bucket on the island. Our relationship may push the boundaries of propriety, but all I care about right now is keeping her here with me.
She eyes me curiously, her gaze flitting between me and the glasses of ruby liquid on the counter space between us.
“Someone has to eat the candy.” I shrug and slide the bucket toward her. “Kronk is all settled.”
She releases a small breath of laughter before uncrossing her arms and walking over to take it. “Okay, but all the candy corns are mine.”
My face pulls into a grimace as I follow behind her, carrying our drinks into the living area. “Fine by me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a candy corn hater.” She plops down on the couch and unceremoniously dumps the candy out on the cushion next to her.
“It’s literally corn syrup-flavored wax.” I take the seat on the other side of the pile of treats, simultaneously hating and thankful for the space between us.
I’ve already been more up close and personal with her than usual, but I couldn’t help myself. I knew exactly how Stu would treat her if I didn’t mark my territory.
Fuck.
Mark her.
Blood rushes to my ears at the thought.
And to other places.
I shift uncomfortably, readjusting myself as I recite the pledge of allegiance in my mind.
When I look at her again, I remind myself of the boundaries that must remain between us—I’m her boss and her professor, and that’s all I can be for now. I can’t cross that line, no matter how tempting it is. But if she were to make the first move? That would be a different story. Tonight, I pushed the boundaries a little more than I planned, getting more comfortable with her than I intended, partly because I felt a surge of possessiveness while my friends were around.
Despite my intentionally respectful thoughts, I can’t control the spark of electricity that jolts up my arm when she takes the glass of wine from my hand and our fingers brush.
The way she smiles, the way her hair falls across her face.
It’s a torture I’m willing to endure.
I’m not even going to try and rationalize any of this.
