Ex Games

“Fine. But you gotta admit that some of this is surprising. I knew he liked you, Taylor and you know I love you, but I really never expected Mase to care about any women as much as he already cares about you.”

I pursed my lips as I thought about it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by some of Mason’s gestures. We were very much a fake couple but he was very truly angered yesterday when I told him about Aaron’s colleagues. I could excuse him chasing after them and forcing Trevor to apologize to me because there were witnesses for that – that lent well to our act. But I couldn’t think of an explanation for the way Mason had caught my eye the second I returned from the bathroom. Before anyone else even noticed, he had detected my distress from afar and I had seen the concern in his eyes. When he rushed to ask what happened, his back was turned to the dining room so no one could see the look of unfiltered anger haunting his face as he demanded to know how I was wronged. I’d thought about it last night in bed and though I knew I was indulging in over-analysis, I concluded that Mason’s need to defend my honor last night wasn’t completely an act and it was kind of nice to realize.

Of course, another part of me hated realizing that too because it confused the hell out of me. After dinner at Lady Mercer last night, and after acting a bit cutesy with Mason, I’d already woken up feeling vaguely different – happier than usual but wary of feeling that way. It was such a push and pull within my own body that I tried to numb my brain by doing something mundane and slightly torturous, like sorting Aaron’s mail.

But then that incredible damned diamond arrived at my door.

“Yeah.” I shook my head to myself, staring for the hundredth time at its radiating beauty. “This is just… so crazy.”

Sofia beamed. “Sure is. But it’s awesome and beautiful and you should just own it.”

I ran my finger along the fine chain of the necklace. “Well, he bought it for me so I think I do own it.”

“I mean your relationship with Mason,” Sofia said dryly. “I can see you being overwhelmed by it and it’s totally understandable, but you should just embrace what you’re feeling right now, Taylor. I mean when was the last time you felt as happy as you do right now?”

I frowned as I thought about it. “God, that’s a good question. Um…”

Oddly enough, the first thought that popped into mind was my first promotion at Vandermark four years ago, before I even met Aaron. Of course, I was happy with Aaron in the first eight to ten months of our relationship. But I couldn’t pin a specific day to compare to the heights I’d already felt today.

“You’re taking forever to answer, so it was clearly ages ago,” Sofia said, smacking her freshly painted lips. “Which means you’re the happiest now that you’ve been in maybe years and considering everything – everything, including things that happened before Aaron even left,” she said hastily, staring me down through the mirror to let me know she wasn’t backing down from her words, “you really and truly deserve to live in this moment and take all the pleasure that life is offering you. Stop questioning. Just enjoy. And what better place to do it than Noah van Daal’s crazy fucking bachelor pad, right?”

I smiled. “I don’t know. I’ve never been there before.”

Grabbing her clutch and coat off my dresser, Sofia spun to flash a big, dazzling smile. “Well you’re about to, lady. Now put on your coat so you can go wow your man and have the best fucking night of your life.”

Chapter Nine

I underestimated how much chefs made in New York, because Noah Van Daal’s apartment knocked me damned near off my four-inch heels. The TriBeCa penthouse was the picture of modern luxury with heated walnut floors, its own private gym and an indoor pool, where apparently the majority of the party was gathered.

“No swimsuit?” Noah grinned as he greeted Sofia with a bear hug.

“Not swimming if you don’t,” Sofia said, pulling back to frown at his dry body fully clothed in a black crew neck and black jeans. Despite short, clean-cut hair that screamed corner office, tattoos peeked out from every edge of Noah’s shirt. His dark eyes were bleary and from the way he held his drink, I guessed it probably wasn’t his first, second or even eighth of the night. “Noah, you know Taylor, of course.”

He gave me a single upward nod. Then upon spotting my necklace, he shielded his eyes. “Christ, it’s like staring into the sun.”

Sofia giggled, shedding her coat then taking mine. “Uh-huh. Your bestie bought it for her because he’s whipped.”

Noah’s eyebrows ascended with downright shock. “Mason bought you that?” He paused for several moments to process the fact. “Fuck whipped, he’s clearly neutered,” he muttered, coming closer to let his glassy eyes examine me. Giving my thigh-high boots and little black dress the onceover, he nodded at me. “And I guess you’re rewarding him by dressing like a sex kitten tonight. Good move, considering the raccoons.”

“Raccoons?”

Sofia rolled her eyes. “Mason’s groupies. Noah will explain why he calls them that. I’m not sticking around to listen though,” she snorted, going off to put our coats somewhere. Once she was out of sight, Noah smirked.

“Before we get into that, how is it so far?”

“How is what?”

“Pretending you’d voluntarily date Mason,” he replied. Before I could ask any questions, he supplied my answer. “I know the truth, he told me. But don’t blame him, I would’ve figured it out on my own. I don’t have quite as many… rainbows and unicorns in my heart as Sofia, so I wouldn’t exactly

buy the fact that you decided to hook up with Mase. Not after your rocky relationship with him the past few years.”

I arched an eyebrow. “And how do you know about my relationship with Mason? He’s talked to you about me?”

“No, I know from Aaron,” Noah said, making me feel promptly idiotic for being so hopeful. “Your ex used to come to my parties sometimes. Which gets us back on the topic of the raccoons.”

“Right,” I made a face. “The groupies. Explain the nickname to me?”

Noah laughed. “The lady stalkers… they have these big, black rings around their eyes. I think they call it makeup, but Sof would disagree. They come out only at night. Great at breaking and entering and trying to pass it off as something cute. Can get destructive when they don’t get what they want. Also might as well be rabid and foaming at the mouth considering how desperate they are to get their hands on Mase. So good job wearing…” Noah trailed off to look me up and down again. “Whatever outfit this is ‘cause that’ll keep most of them at bay tonight. Can’t really compete with this look. Especially not when it includes that fucking rock.”