Chapter 19
RANSOM
Teagan gives me a tentative look when we reach the coffee shop. “I can just wait outside, or run errands and meet you back here,” she offers.
I shake my head, having none of that. “She knows I’m with you. It’s fine.”
Teagan chuckles, patting my shoulder in a you’re so cute fashion. “That isn’t the issue. I meant if you wanted to see her alone.”
“No, we can go together. It’s all crazy talk anyway.”
I show her the text again.
Tempest: It’s about Adrian.
“I mean, she has to be playing a joke on me,” I say, then push open the door to the coffee shop, scanning the tables for my sister. She’s in the back, tapping away on her computer.
I march over to her, introduce her to Teagan, then grab a chair and park myself in it.
“So . . . is this the height of smack talk?”
She grins. “I assure you it’s not. It’s all true. I’m seeing Adrian Martinez.”
My. Jaw. Drops.
Clangs to the floor.
I grab it, yank it back up.
“Seriously?”
Tempest grins wickedly. “Yes, seriously.”
Teagan holds up a palm to high-five. “You go, girl.”
I snap my gaze to my woman. “How can you be encouraging her?”
Teagan rolls her pretty eyes. “Adrian’s a fascinating guy, and you’re friends. What is the problem?”
I huff. She makes a good point. But the problem is . . . “How did this happen?”
Teagan laughs again and sets a hand on my arm. “Sweetie, you can’t figure it out?”
“No. And why are you looking at me like I’m clueless?”
Teagan meets Tempest’s gaze. “You’re his phone bidder, right?”
Tempest smiles proudly. “I am indeed. We had lunch this week, and have met up a few more times already.”
Teagan’s eyes light up. “We should all go out together.”
“I’d love that,” Tempest says, then looks at me. “And you would too, right, Ransom?”
She’s leading the witness. She’s saying what she wants me to say.
And part of me wants to growl and grump, but another part realizes my sister is happy, my woman is happy, and hell, maybe my bud is too.
“Sure. Let’s double.”
It sounds odd, but oddly cool too.