Ex Games

“Uh… why? You’re dating Mason now. Sex is going to happen,” she pointed out blankly. Oops. Shit. “I mean do you really feel that guilty about being with him?”

I blinked. “Yes,” I said eagerly. “Yes, I do.”

“Well, don’t. Aaron basically gave you the freedom to do whatever you want with the stunt he pulled and that includes boinking his brother, so boink away. And while we’re on this topic, can I just say that I’m ridiculously happy for you two? As fucked up as it is, I kind of always hoped… even when you were still with Aaron… that you and Mase might become a thing someday.”

I had to laugh in her face. “Wait, what? Why?”

“Because under all the hate, I feel like you guys were totally meant for each other!” she said, arms crossed with her nose in the air.

“Yeah, the few times we even spoke, it was all snark so now you’re just talking out of your ass.”

“Hey, there’s a fine line between love and hate,” Sofia sassed. “You should know better than anyone considering how weird things got with you and Aaron before he even left.”

I blinked, stunned. Then I shot her a look. “We were fine, Sofia. Perfect, really, considering the circumstances.”

She backed down fast. “Sorry. You’re right.”

“So let’s please not go there.”

She held her hands up. “Again, sorry. We won’t go there.”

I pinched my eyes shut, regretting the snippiness. “No… I’m sorry. I was just already sensitive and thinking about that whole situation thanks to the little Whitney flare-up yesterday.”

“Don’t think about those things. Or that night,” Sofia urged. “You have a new man in your life and there’s no room for regrets anymore. You’re happy, he’s happy and honestly… I think you could be the one. The one to tame the untamable beast.”

“Sof, you’re great at many things but I gotta say, you’re not the best bullshitter.”

She scoffed. “Fine. Don’t believe me. But let me just point out that Mason’s already dropped basically millions of dollars on you by negotiating that deal with your company so you could go on vacation. And let’s be real, he didn’t have to do that. He could’ve just booked some big party with you guys that cost like, a fraction of that contract and Lori would still let you go on vacation since you’re her favorite employee anyway. Right?”

I chewed my lip. “That reminds me, I have to drop by the office to sign something so I can even start my vacation.”

“Or are you just trying to escape me because you’re uncomfortable admitting how incredibly fucking attracted you are to Mason?” Sofia smirked. I narrowed playful eyes at her.

“That’s not it, and you’re very annoying. You know that?”

“In the most lovable way though, right?” Sofia grinned as I faked a sigh and a begrudging nod. “See, that’s a trait that runs in the Leo family. And you know that all too well now that you’re with Mason.”

I groaned. “I really do.”

“Oop. There’s the sex face again.”

I clamped my hand over my mouth. “Liar,” I said, leaving money on the table that she threw back me. “You’re the worst.”

“And you’re leaving. Don’t try to pay. See you at Noah’s dinner tomorrow?”

“You will.” Opening this week was Lady Mercer, SoHo’s latest scene to be seen, and running the place was Noah van Daal, Manhattan’s favorite bad boy chef and best friend to none other than my own Mason Leo. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Of course not. Everyone in this city is going to be there.” Sofia wiggled her perfect eyebrows. “So it’s basically you and Mason’s official coming out party, wouldn’t you say?”

Shit, I thought as I shrugged my coat on, realizing exactly why Mason had asked me to go. “God, I hadn’t really thought about that but thank you for reminding me it’s gonna be Side-Eye City in there.”

“You better look hot. It’s Noah’s opening, but all eyes are gonna be on you two.”

“Thanks. No pressure at all.”

Sofia snorted. “You’ll be fine. You’re going to have Mason Leo on your arm and I hear that’s a big enough confidence boost as it is.”

“That I actually can’t argue.”