Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Josie
“Honey, this aunt of yours sounds very toxic,” Savannah says, picking up my plate from the table. “Let me get you some more lasagna.”
I shoot Dane a look, already stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey from loading up on his mom’s crackers and dip appetizer and her cheesy, carby, comforting lasagna.
“Mom, she’s full,” he says. “But I’ll take more.”
Savannah looks at me, a line between her brows. “You’ll take a little bit more, won’t you?”
“Sure,” I concede, grateful I’m wearing pants with a stretchy waistband.
She gives me an approving smile and heads back over to the counter.
Stan moves his napkin from his lap to the table, clearing his throat. “She sounds quite unprofessional to me. That news should have been delivered to you by her in a face-to-face conversation.”
“You know, this could be reverse nepotism,” Savannah says as she loads Dane’s plate up with lasagna. “I saw a psychiatrist being interviewed about it a few weeks ago. It was fascinating. It’s where family members treat family who work for them extra harshly to avoid the appearance of special treatment.”
I’ve always thought of my relationship with my aunt as complicated, but I’m not so sure it is. Jane is my father’s sister and she always hated my mom because my mom left my dad when I was little because his drinking had become a problem. We moved far away from him and his family and he drank himself to death a few years after. My mom told me we could go to his funeral if I wanted to, but she was honest with me that his family blamed her for his death and it could be uncomfortable. I chose not to go.
Dane puts a hand on my knee beneath the table, meeting his mom’s gaze as she sets my plate back down in front of me.
“What’s new with you, Mom?” he asks. “Did you find anything when you went shopping today?”
I give him a grateful glance as Savannah excitedly tells him about a vase she bought from a downtown art gallery. Even though I don’t want to talk about not getting the promotion, being in his parents’ company feels as comforting as the food Dane’s mom made for us. They’re parental like my mom was, but also not so parental in ways that make me laugh inwardly.
“Sweetie, why was that young woman on Twitter saying you anal shamed her?” Savannah asks as we’re all cleaning up after dinner.
My eyes widen, but I don’t let my reaction show. My mother never would have said the word anal to me.
“I think it’s called X now, dear,” Stan says.
“Because she offered me anal sex and I said no, Mom.”
“Well, I hope you said no, thank you . And you didn’t really shame her about it, did you?”
A corner of Dane’s mouth curves up as he meets my gaze. He’s loading clean silverware into a drawer while I wipe off the table.
“You have to be firm with puck bunnies,” he says. “I accidentally left my car unlocked in the player lot one time and there was a naked woman in my back seat after a game. She sent her clothes with a friend, so I’d look like an asshole if I just kicked her out into the cold.”
I gape at him, imagining that scene playing out. Being naked in a stranger’s car sounds hellish to me.
“What did you do?” Stan asks.
“I called security. They brought out a blanket and dragged her out of my car.”
Savannah starts loading dishes into the dishwasher, shaking her head in disbelief. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant. How did the two of you meet?”
Dane closes the drawer and turns to face me, grinning as he crosses his arms. “Josie was hired as my personal bodyguard.”
Stan frowns. “Your what now?”
I smile at him. “I’m a publicist. Dane’s team owner thought he could use some...individual oversight.”
That makes Stan laugh heartily. “I like her, Dane.”
“She’s pretty damn likable.”
Dane’s eyes are warm as he looks at me, making Monica and the promotion feel like less of a thing. Not making it to senior publicist means I’m still broke, but other than that, it doesn’t mean as much to me as I thought it would. Now that I have more in my life than just my job—so much more because of Dane—I know I’ll be okay, senior publicist or not.
“I think Josie should start her own business,” Dane says. “She’s got a great mind for it.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Stan says. “Especially now.”
I shake my head. “Dane’s overestimating me. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“You’ve already got a top-tier client on your roster.” He winks at me.
I raise my index finger and point it at him. “Actually, I don’t. My aunt’s firm does, and I’m the employee she assigned.”
Dane considers. “A technicality. I’m sure Arnold will hire Josie Garver PR if you keep giving him the same results.”
I laugh. “So I’ll have one client that I work for around the clock? Who is also...” I can’t bring myself to say the words my boyfriend . “...more than just a client.”
“I might be able to behave myself without you for a few hours a day while you do other work.”
Savannah scoffs, amused. “Pardon my French, but grow the fuck up, son. If you want to be in an adult relationship, you have to act like an adult.”
He grins at her. “I know, Mom. I’m just teasing her. She knows I’ve got her back.” He turns to me, his expression shifting to a serious one. “I’ll provide the startup cash and help you drum up a few clients. Arnold will give you a glowing recommendation. You need to do this.”
All three of them are looking at me expectantly. I still haven’t had time to think about Monica getting the promotion and what that means for me. A little voice inside my head is telling me to wait until my assignment with Dane is finished and then reassess things. Because while I appreciate Dane believing in me, I know if I started my own publicity business, my aunt would use every resource at her disposal to see that I fail at it.
Why have I been so loyal to someone who would do that to me? Whether she’s the only family I have left or not, she doesn’t deserve it.
Savannah stifles a yawn. Dane walks over to the refrigerator and takes out two bottles of water, side-eyeing me as Mr. Darcy jumps up onto the kitchen counter.
“We’re going to head to bed,” he says. “You guys know where everything is. I have to be at the arena early for game day. You’re coming to the game, right?”
“Of course, we wouldn’t miss it,” Savannah says. “I might spend some time here tomorrow while your father is working.”
Dane hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. I like how openly affectionate he is with her.
Everyone says good night and a wave of exhaustion hits me as we walk to Dane’s bedroom, his hand on the small of my back. It’s been a hell of a day. Dane and I slept together . Several times. Our pretend relationship didn’t last long, and now we seem to be in a real one.
What does that mean, though? Are we exclusive?
I also met his parents, who weren’t at all what I expected, though I didn’t really have any expectations because I never thought I’d meet his parents.
And Monica got the promotion. I want to be angry about it, but more than anything, I’m hurt. I’m good at my job. I’ve put in my time and contributed a lot of good ideas. My clients all love my work.
After we’ve brushed our teeth and climbed into bed, I’m grateful when Dane wraps his arms around me instead of trying to initiate sex again. The sex was amazing, but I’m sexed out.
It’s sinking in that this time with him won’t last forever, and soon I’ll have to walk back into the office and congratulate Monica on her new role. I may choke on those words.
“Josie Garver PR has a nice ring to it,” Dane says, kissing the top of my head.
I close my eyes and burrow against his chest, tucking my head beneath his chin. “I can’t even think about that right now. Hold me tighter.”
He strengthens his hold on me, making me feel secure.
“Better?” he murmurs.
“Mm-hmm.”
Jane is going to have to reassign me somehow because there’s no way I can work on a team led by Monica. I’ll quit before I report to that bitch. I’d rather eat cat food and sleep in a tent than give her the satisfaction. I can always fall back on waitressing. And I may have to do it soon.
“You think you guys will make the playoffs?”
“Yep.”
I sigh, relaxing a little. That gives me more time with Dane. More time for the shock of losing the promotion to wear off. More time before I have to go back to the office and face reality.