“Well, I feel like crap,” Sloane pouted. “And I’m so tired of this place. Don’t you boys ever go anywhere besides here and Buccieri?”
Sawyer blinked. “Not really, no.”
“Well, that’s stupid,” Sloane grumbled, ever the grouch when hung over or sick. I glanced at Jake, exchanging a little laugh as she continued to lament over the menu. “This isn’t what I want. I don’t want any of this. I want a burger. Or a bagel. I don’t want a croustillant. Did I even say that right? Oh, who fuckin’ cares.”
“Shit, she’s cursing,” Sawyer said seriously, knowing well that Sloane only swore when truly enraged. Heaving a sigh, he nodded out the door. “Well, if you’re really upset, go outside and get a bagel.”
“By myself?” Sloane asked, aghast.
“Yes, Princess. Or you know what – Jake will take you.”
Jake lifted an eyebrow. “I will?” He turned to look at Sloane, whose tantrum had her tossing a menu on the floor with boredom. “Yeah, okay, I will,” he nodded, flashing me a quizzical look before sliding out of the booth. I watched him go, feeling a little wary myself as he left me alone with Sawyer. Somehow, I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say.
“Pretty bad hangover?” I asked when he didn’t break the silence first.
“Not my worst,” he laughed, scanning the menu. “So, you remember anything from last night?” he asked after a beat of silence.
“The important things,” I replied.
Finally, Sawyer looked up, a serious look in his dark eyes. “Yeah. I don’t know if you know or if you figured it out but I saw you and Jake kissing at the game.” I had suspected as much but I swallowed hard, my eyes dropping into my lap. “But I’m not saying this to shame you, Lara. I doubt you remember, but I said something to you last night at the bar – ”
“That if something was going on between me and Jake, you’d be behind it.”
“Yes.”
I looked up at him, wrenching my hands under the table. “Why would you be behind it?” I asked, despite not really wanting the answer. I remembered what he’d drunkenly said on the yacht in Ibiza, right before Jackson proposed. “I know a lot of things. Things that you’d wanna know.” I always assumed he was talking about Gabrielle since he’d seen them that night, but suddenly, sitting alone with him, I feared that there was something more. After all, he had said that he knew “things,” which was plural. Or maybe you’re just being crazy, I told myself. “Listen, I know you know about Gabrielle,” I blurted, unable to take the suspense. “Dane told me you were there. But is there something else you know beyond that?” I asked, hating the desperate tone in my voice.
Sawyer ran a heavy hand over his stubble. There was a long pause before he answered, “Yes.”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head with mounting fury. Of course. Of course there was something else with Jackson. There always was and I’d simply found out too late. “What is it, Sawyer?” I asked, opening my eyes to find myself staring through tears.
Sawyer took a deep breath, rubbing his face with both hands. “I wanted to tell you but I wasn’t sure if it was true and I had to make sure before I made an accusation that could ruin someone’s – ”
“Sawyer. I know. It’s fine. Just tell me, please,” I said hastily, my heart beating faster as Sawyer’s lip began to curl with disgust. He pressed his fist against his mouth, as if needing to suppress his anger in order to speak. When he finally did, instant fear burned in my chest.
“You know the man who broke into your apartment?”
I stared. A cold sweat prickled my skin. “Yes,” I said, my voice dead, hollow. I waited for Sawyer to continue but he didn’t, once again choking back revulsion. “Sawyer, what about him? Who is he?” I pleaded for an answer but when he finally opened his mouth to speak, it snapped back shut, his fingers curling into a fist.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he muttered to himself as he stared past me.
Turning around, I expected to see Jake and Sloane but instead, I saw a stunning brunette in an impossibly short dress – joined by him.
Dane Fucking McNulty.
“No fucking way. Holy shit!” he clapped, his volume startling the adjacent tables. “Look at you two. Like fuckin’ deer in headlights,” he laughed, his grey eyes twinkling with true excitement as he strolled to us. “Sawyer.” Dane slapped a heavy hand onto his shoulder. “I don’t know if I should congratulate you or punch you in the fuckin’ head, you fuckin’ dog.”
“Get your hand off of me,” Sawyer flung him away. Dane held his hands up, feigning hurt.
“Really, dude? I was actually going to say good job on growing some balls and doing what you said you’d do that night we saw Jackson and Gabby together.” As Sawyer’s face reddened, Dane turned to me with mock sympathy. “Not to bring Gabby up again. I know it’s a sore subject. But I’m guessing it’s what made this coupling happen, right?” He pointed back and forth between us before looking at me. “By the way, I couldn’t be happier to know that you’re the cheating type.”
“This isn’t what you think it is, Dane,” I bit back. “I’m sure your sick mind disagrees but there is such thing as a non-sexual encounter.”
A slow grin spread Dane’s lips. “Goddamn, I’ve heard about that sharp tongue,” he murmured, eyeing between my mouth. He turned to Sawyer. “How was it, brother? As good as Jackson says?” When no words came out from between Sawyer’s gritted teeth, Dane returned to me. “You know, Jax brags a lot about you, sweetheart. Lots of stories but my personal favorite is the one about the time I went into his office to discuss some shit but you stayed kneeling under his desk and kept sucking on his dick like such a good little – ”
Sawyer jumped to his feet. “Listen, it’s time for you to shut your fucking mouth,” he hissed, inches from Dane’s face. “Don’t talk to me like that and don’t talk to her at all. This isn’t what you think it is but I don’t owe you an explanation so why don’t you walk the fuck away and go have lunch with that poor girl over there who doesn’t know what kind of disgusting fucking prick you are,” he muttered, walking forward and forcing Dane back. Dane only sneered.
“Fuck, you guys are such a drag these days. You, Jackson, all of you,” he shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’ll make things exciting for you guys again. I have a feeling Jax would love to hear about his fiancé fucking one of his oldest friends.”