Ash was quickly realizing that Kallie’s friend was a tenacious defender. Which was bad, because he’d already gotten on her wrong side. Ash knew he had to do something to diffuse the situation. He knew getting in with the best friend would be the quickest way to winning Kallie back. But he wasn’t sure what to do. Every time he said something, she twisted his words. And the terrible thing was, he couldn't completely deny her statements. Yes, he’d had other women. Yes, he played it off like he didn’t have money. Yes, that made him look like a liar and that he lacked integrity.
But that wasn’t true.
Most people were willing to forgive a rich man. For anything. And he had to admit, he’d been privileged with that for years. He could make a fool of himself, introduce himself, and people would automatically forgive him. But Kallie and Eris weren’t those kinds of people. Ash didn’t get to enjoy some of the perks of being rich without getting the consequences. Like gold diggers and stuck-up families and people who wanted to use him for exposure.
Ash was also figuring out that he couldn't play himself off to be a normal guy and not get the “normal guy issues.”
The drinks came around and Ash divvied them out. Eris with her rum and Coke, Kallie with her mango margarita he still wasn’t sure she wanted, and him with his scotch. He took a sip of his drink and considered his options as he continued to field Eris’s questions. If he had things his way, he would take Kallie with him and leave Eris high and dry. He knew he needed to talk with Kallie, and everything Eris was saying turned Kallie more against him. He could see it in her face. That was her best friend, and she would always be more inclined to listen to her than to him.
But how could he get rid of Eris?
“Eris, please back off,” Kallie said.
“What? You come back from your vacation a few days early because of this guy and the shock he threw your way, and I’m supposed to back off?” Eris asked.
“Enough has happened. Okay? You don’t have to protect me,” Kallie said.
“I’m always going to protect you,” Eris said. “You’re my best friend. And he lied to you, straight up. About the core of who he was.”
Kallie’s face twisted up in confusion and it made Ash’s stomach roll. He had to stop this madness before it did lasting, permanent damage to what he was in the city to accomplish.
“Do you always travel with a two-female entourage, Ash?”
He looked up and saw Jeremy coming into the VIP room they were sitting in.
“And here I thought you were out still taking pictures,” Ash said.
“Who’s this?” Kallie asked.
“Kallie. Eris. This is Jeremy, the owner of the club,” Ash said.
“One of them,” Jeremy said. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“What makes you think we’re his entourage?” Eris asked.
“Because he’s the rich one and can have anything he wants,” Jeremy said with a smile.
“Well, for your information, he’s actually our entourage for the night,” Eris said.
“Then I must ask as to how you landed the richest man in town for your own personal entourage,” Jeremy said.
“Isn’t is obvious?” Eris asked. “No man’s immune to a sassy girl in sweatpants.”
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. The chemistry and banter flowing between Eris and Jeremy was palpable. This was the distraction he was looking for. If Jeremy could keep a wildfire like Eris occupied, then he could pry Kallie from her claws and talk with her. Which was what he’d originally come to the city for. To talk with her. To clear the air. But it was obvious Eris had been chattering into Kallie’s ear for much longer than he could’ve ever wanted, and Ash didn’t know what kind of damage control needed to be done.
“And it’s a marvelous pair of sweatpants,” Jeremy said, then smiled.
He stepped closer to the trio and Kallie slid over, making room for him on the couch. Ash watched as the two of them continued to trade barbs, a small grin sliding across his cheeks. Eris was wholly entranced with Jeremy’s sass, which matched hers, and Kallie seemed entertained by the two. The more she turned to look and listen, the more she leaned into him. He slid his arm over the back of the couch, trying to gain more access to her. To open his body up to her in case she fell over into his lap.