I blinked up at him. “I guess someone that has excellent work ethics,” I shrugged my one good shoulder. “It was just a graze.”
“I saw the blood,” Lincoln said with determination, his bluish green eyes shooting fire at me. “I’m well aware of the severity of your injuries, but regardless, you shouldn’t be here so soon after something like that.”
“Thanks, by the way,” I said facetiously. “Is that what you wanted to hear? I was drinking and it contributed to most of the blood loss. I didn’t even need a transfusion,” I stated with a deadpan look.
I really didn’t know why I was acting so hostile towards him. His intervention may have even saved my life, for all we know. There was just something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. He was arrogant and made me feel young and inexperienced. I hated being underestimated.
“No thanks were needed,” Lincoln said austerely. “I just don’t understand a company that will allow a young girl like you to return to work less than twelve hours after you were shot. Are you that hard up on money or are you that reckless? Either way, I think you lack a lot of common sense.”
I immediately bristled under his scathing tone. I really couldn’t wait to leave this city. Too many people had a high opinion of themselves and talked to anyone whichever way they pleased.
“The happily engaged couple is waiting this way,” Jace bit out once more. He, too, was probably losing patience with his air of superiority.
“Linky!” a high-pitched feminine voice squealed from the back door.
I heard laughter to my left at the same time I turned to see who was attached to such an annoying voice. I watched as Noah and Troy came down the stairs laughing. Then I watched them freeze as their eyes went in the direction of the back doors.
I turned and saw Eva wrapping possessive arms around Lincoln Hudgens.
I didn’t realize I groaned aloud as I slammed my head down on the podium with an audible thud.
Chapter 9
“Troy, Noah,” Eva said with a saccharine sweet smile as she disengaged herself from Lincoln’s arms.
“Eva,” they said simultaneously with equally blank expressions.
“Long time no see.” She sashayed forward in obscenely high heels and a white dress that hugged her figure like a second skin.
“It has been,” Troy said coolly.
“You boys working this gig?” Eva cooed.
“We are,” Noah stated as she embraced him.
He gave her a stiff and brief hug before stepping back from her.
“What do you think?” she purred as she turned slowly.
“You’ve changed,” Troy said noncommittedly.
She let out an annoying tinkling laugh, then turned to embrace Troy next.
I didn’t even feel any jealousy as she draped herself across him. One, she was so obviously fake, and I knew the guys couldn’t stand girls like her now. Two, I had more significant issues running through my head.
I really hoped—prayed—that Lincoln wasn’t the one that I had been jumping, my last connected. I looked over at him. He almost seemed bored as he watched Eva openly flirt with Troy and Noah.
I scrutinized him further. He did have the bronze skin I had seen in my jumps.
I was brought out of my musings as Eva stepped away from Noah and Troy. “Are you guys in town for long?”
Troy looked at me with concern. My head was off the podium, but I’m sure I was the exact shade of white as my shirt. “We’re not certain yet.”
“We should catch up, then,” Eva enthused.
“We’ll see,” Troy said vaguely.
I knew he had no intentions of ‘catching up’. There was a reason he had blocked her number and stopped responding to her. He had no interest in her then or now. No amount of semi-fame would change his mind. The poor woman just didn’t realize that.