Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
He headed over to me, wrapping both arms around me and nuzzling his nose against the back of my neck, something I’d come to appreciate whenever we were in bed together.
I was glad he’d done it because it set my mind at ease, and even though my conversation with Sadie had stirred some discomfort, his affection managed to chase most of it away.
“I like this guy,” Sadie said before giving him some shit about not telling her about the night in the parking lot. But soon, the conversation shifted just before Lee and Owen joined us.
“You fucking sharked us,” Lee said, glaring at Ethan as he stumbled up to him.
I shook my head. “I warned you guys.”
“I knew I wouldn’t beat him,” Owen said. “I thought I only had to beat you two.”
Sadie and I exchanged a look, both of us smirking, enjoying our victories.
“And look at who’s all lovey dovey with his man tonight,” Owen teased, eyeing us as Ethan kept me close to him like he didn’t want to let go. “This is not a side I see of my boss, just so you know.”
“Well, the only way you’d see this side was if we were screwing around,” Ethan noted.
“Who said that can’t still happen?” Owen asked.
“He has a boyfriend,” I replied.
Owen smirked and added, “And I don’t have a problem with that.” He winked.
“Nice try, but you aren’t getting in the middle of this. I’d just push you out of the bed.” He nuzzled his nose against my cheek and offered a soft kiss, one that got me all sorts of riled up.
“Owen, I’m reporting you to HR,” Sadie said before laughing.
Owen threw his hands in the air. “Can you blame a guy for trying?”
“I can blame him for not trying on the single guy standing right beside him,” Lee said before slapping Owen’s shoulder.
We all laughed and talked some more, downed a few more drinks.
I wasn’t keeping track of where everyone was, but I noticed Lee starting to slur a bit.
“I think I’m going to grab another drink,” he said.
I couldn’t help but intervene. “You know, I think you might want to skip one. Maybe get some water.”
He shook his head and eyed me strangely. “What? I’m fine, man.” He blinked several times, assuring me that he wasn’t.
“No, come on, Lee. How about you just get a car and head back to your place. We’re probably all about to head out soon.”
He rolled his eyes and headed to the bar, stumbling and taking a fall.
“Oh, shit,” Owen said.
I hopped up from the stool I was on and squatted down.
“Okay, maybe not going to grab that other drink.”
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Did you get hurt?”
“Naw, man. I’m fine.”
Guilt rose within me. Normally, I could tell when he was getting too many drinks in him, but I was so distracted by Ethan that night that I wasn’t paying enough attention to Lee. I should have been watching out for my friend.
Between the cocktails I’d had and the emotions I’d stirred when I told Sadie about the incident in the parking lot, I was on edge, worried as fuck that Lee might have gotten hurt.
I slung his arm over my shoulder and helped him to his feet. As I looked to Ethan, I could see his own concern, about me. Like he knew by my reaction that the incident had brought out my overprotectiveness.
He glanced between Owen and Sadie. “You know, I think we might need to call it a night, guys. Lee, why don’t you Uber with Sean and me, and we’ll get you home.”
Lee nodded, his face cringed up like he was ashamed of himself. “That sounds like a good idea.”
I should have known he’d had too much to drink. It shouldn’t have gotten to that point where he could have gotten hurt.
29
Ethan
I watched Sean as he fussed over Lee as though he’d broken a bone.
“I’m fine,” Lee tried to tell him. His voice sounded different than it had earlier. A little frustrated with Sean’s coddling maybe, and a little drunk, definitely, but there was something else in there too that I didn’t know Lee well enough to decipher.
“I know you’re fine, but that wasn’t like you.”
I waited for myself to feel a little jealousy, but it didn’t come. Lee was Sean’s friend and nothing more. That much was obvious but as I continued to watch Sean with him, so many more things about him began to fit.
Our car pulled up in front of a condo unit and Sean said, “I’m going to help him upstairs. I’ll be right back.”
I nodded and waited with the car as they disappeared. I couldn’t help but think about tonight, about taking Sean out with the people I worked with and how important it had suddenly become to me for Sean to cement himself in more areas of my life.