Chapter 24 #3
“I swear we were just really, really good friends.” His brow furrows. “Wait. That came out wrong. I don’t mean in an innuendo way, but more like friends who…also…um…kinda had sex for a couple of years…but, like, friendly sex.”
“Friendly sex?” I raise a brow.
He clears his throat. “Yes, we were there, and it seemed like the thing to do at the time, so we did. But it wasn’t serious. If it had been serious, we wouldn’t be friends.”
“You’re trying to tell me you had friendly, not serious sex for two years with Gracie? Then one day, you stopped having sex and kept on being friends.”
“Yes.” He nods in affirmation.
Our eyes meet.
I search his dark gaze.
The room has gone pin-drop quiet, like everyone at the table is holding their breath.
Those midnight eyes don’t even flicker, and in the stillness, I find what I’m looking for.
Even though I wasn’t worried, a tiny part of me still needed to read the truth on his face.
To see it written across his features that whatever they had been to each other, it wasn’t like us. And he’s giving me that.
I nod. “Okay.”
A dark brow rises. “Okay?”
I shrug. “Yeah. I get it. She’s pretty hot.”
He smiles. “She really is.”
We’re okay, but I don’t think he’s quite paid enough for my taste, so I turn my attention to the professor. “The only question left is, what are you and I going to do about this?”
His expression perks up with interest. “Did you have something in mind?”
“I do, actually.” I flash Charlie a grin. “Since I’ve had some time to think about it.”
“Jessica,” Charlie says, his tone warning.
I ignore him and turn back to James, folding my hands in front of me to project an official stance. “Here’s what I propose, if you’re amenable.”
“I’m all ears,” James says.
When I’m assured I have the table’s undivided attention, I begin in a judicious tone. “I trust whatever relationship these two had was over long enough ago that you seem unbothered.”
“I’ve gotten used to it,” James agrees.
I blink innocently at the man next to me. “But Charlie needs to learn not to underestimate me.”
“How many times do I need to tell you I don’t underestimate you.” Charlie drags a hand through his hair.
I continue to address the professor. “Correct me if I’m wrong, James, but I feel like things are a bit uneven. I mean, we innocent victims are forced to live with compelling evidence of them in our heads.”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw as he ponders. “I hadn’t thought about it like that, but I do see your point.”
Charlie groans. “Please don’t encourage her. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
I glance at Gracie, who appears both amused and interested, before returning to the presentation of my argument to her husband. “I contend, in the pursuit of justice, the offenders be subjected to comparable evidentiary evidence, don’t you?”
James laughs. “What do you have in mind?”
“Since we’ve almost seen each other naked, that won’t do much to level the playing field.”
“Good point,” James says.
Before I can continue, Shane holds up a hand. “Wait? What? How did this happen?”
“King’s Cup,” Charlie says.
Evan’s wife, Penelope, speaks up. “Ah, Maddie got to make a rule.”
The petite redhead stalls with a pizza slice in hand. “Hey! Why does everyone always say that?”
“That’s your drunk rule,” Cecilia says to her sister-in-law. “You can’t help yourself.”
An argument breaks out about the rules established during game nights, but then Evan whistles, loud and piercing, so the room falls silent.
He motions in my direction. “Jessica was presenting a solution to resolve the Charlie and Gracie fucking situation.”
“Don’t say it like that,” Charlie says, his voice all growly.
Evan just gives him a shit-eating grin.
I admit a tiny twinge pings through my body at the sound of their names joined. I don’t like it. His name belongs with mine. Which is why he needs to pay.
I smile at James. “It is in my official stance that the only reasonable solution to this dilemma is if we make out and force them to watch.”
“Now that is an interesting proposition,” James says, tone delighted.
“Absolutely not,” Charlie says.
I blink at Charlie. “What? It’s not like we’re going to have sex like you did. It’s just a little tongue to even the score.”
“No!” The bark of the word has a shiver racing down my spine.
Gracie scrunches up her nose and gives me a conciliatory smile. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to side with Charlie here. I think letting James see you almost naked was already quite a reward.”
“That’s very sweet of you. Except Charlie saw you half naked too, so that means he’s still at an advantage. All I’m asking for is one minute. We can even start a timer. The matter will be resolved, and we will never have to discuss it again.” I think this is a perfectly reasonable solution.
“No!” Charlie and Gracie say together.
James sighs. “It seems they are disagreeable.”
“You guys are no fun at all.” I flop back in my chair, crossing my arms and scowling at Charlie. “You’d better make this up to me.”
He slides his hand around my neck, his fingers curling tight. “I promise, I will.”