178. Courtney
Chapter 178
Courtney
“Should we really do this?” I ask for the fifth time, flexing my fingers against his hold.
Sterling looks down at me with such patience and adoration that I sigh.
He’s not changing his mind.
Not that there’s really a point trying to hide what we are now. I have no reason to believe that Fisher or Simpson wouldn’t have told the other guys what they saw, which was Sterling carrying me like a caveman to his house with his hand between my legs.
I’ve already brought up all my concerns this morning.
What if they treat me differently?
What if they get mad for some reason?
What if they ask when it started?
And Sterling reasonably answered all my fears.
He won’t let them treat me differently.
No one has any reason to get mad.
They won’t ask questions like that. And if they did, he’d admit he had a thing for me since day one.
I force the hand not in Sterling’s grip to relax.
This morning has been… gr eat.
I woke up naked in Sterling’s amazingly comfortable king-size bed.
I asked him why he ever let us cram onto my mattress while I tugged on his hair as he went down on me.
I used his shower, which was way nicer than walking forever to use the public ones.
And he made me coffee, with his coffee maker, before I was even dressed.
Truly, it was the best morning I’ve had in a long time.
And we have a few days before the next round of guests, so Sterling had already declared this as a day off for everyone. But Cook still planned to make lunch. So… we’re going to lunch.
Right now.
Reaching out with his free hand, Sterling opens the door to the Food Hall without breaking our connection.
I step through first, my arm extending behind me until Sterling steps up to my side.
Everyone turns to look at us.
Everyone .
Because we’re the last ones to get here.
I drop my gaze and try to let go of Sterling’s hand, but he doesn’t let me.
And then I instantly feel like a jerk because this isn’t just about me. This is about both of us. These are his employees. Men he’s known a whole lot longer than he’s known me.
Sterling doesn’t stop though.
He doesn’t make a speech.
He just keeps walking.
My arm extends out in front of me until I break out of my frozen state and catch up.
The room is silent as we pass by the tables and approach the counter.
This is it.
No going back.
And I need to do my part. Because Sterling and I… We’re in this together .
Stopping across from Cook, Sterling lets go of my hand, then places his palm on my lower back. “You first.”
I relax my shoulders.
I stop biting my lip.
I lift my head.
And I smile.
Because Cook is smiling.
Beaming.
And it’s the exact reaction I needed.
I don’t know what expression everyone else is making, but knowing Cook is happy is enough for me.
He holds out a plate for me, piled high with pasta smothered in a pink sauce.
I take it, not saying anything because I can’t think of the right thing to say.
And because I’m not sure I can speak just yet.
Sterling slides his palm up my spine, stopping when his hand is at the base of my neck.
It’s a soothing move. But also a claiming move.
And even though I’m too chicken to turn around, I’m certain all eyes are still on us. And these touches… They won’t go unnoticed.
“Just no making out in my kitchen, alright?” Cook holds a plate out to Sterling.
The man beside me takes the offered plate with his free hand. “No promises.”
I nudge my elbow into Sterling’s ribs. “We promise.”
Cook winks at me. “Already his better half.”
My cheeks, which were already warm, flare even hotter.
We haven’t even had the discussion about labels yet, even though I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say Sterling is my boyfriend now. Pretty sure . But calling him my better half seems a bit intense.
Sterling just grunts, then uses his hold on me to turn both of us so we’re facing the tables.
And like I suspected, everyone is watching us.
Some of them look serious. Some have smiles on their faces. But we all stare at each other until Sterling speaks .
“Any questions?”
That’s it.
Any questions?
I almost roll my eyes.
Leon raises his hand.
Sterling sighs, presumably over the hand raising. “Yes, Leon?”
He lowers his hand. “Does this mean she’s switched loyalties, or can we still talk shit about you in front of her?”
Sterling slowly turns his head to look down at me, brows raised.
I look at Leon. “We can still talk shit.”
He grins.
And then, one by one, everyone relaxes, their smiles growing, the chattering building.
I was so focused on how they might feel toward me that I didn’t consider anything else. Like the fact they might worry about their own workplace atmosphere.
I take a deep breath and shove away my remaining doubts.
These are good guys.
And even if I started as an outsider, they won’t turn on me now. Not when we’ve become friends.
My heart gives a little squeeze.
Because it’s true. These guys are my friends.
I have friends.
And a man.
And potentially… a future.