Jase takes a seat on the couch next to Sam, while I take the chair. I’m sitting directly across from Sawyer. She’s talking to Sam and making it her job to not look over at me. I watch as she finishes her glass of wine, and Jase quickly stands to refill it, bringing Sam a tall glass of milk when he does. The women keep talking about baby names, and a lot of other things that I tune out. It’s Friday night, and I’m sitting here staring at my new assistant like the stalker that she’s turning me into, and I realize there is nowhere else I’d rather be. I get to watch her freely as Jase and I sit back and pretend to be following the conversation.
“Don’t you two have something else to do?” Sam asks, looking at Jase, then turning her head to look at me. “Go down and play some pool or something.”
“You up for a game?” Jase asks.
“You mean, am I willing to kick your ass in a game of pool? Sure.” I stand and watch as he kisses Sam on the forehead before walking toward the basement steps. I have a strong urge to do the same with Sawyer, but she’s not mine. So, instead, I follow Jase down to the basement.
For the first time in my life, I’m jealous of my best friend. I’ve never been jealous of his fame that came from not only his talent but his career. Hell, I wasn’t even jealous when he and Sam finally stopped dancing around one another and quickly fell in love. I wasn’t jealous when he told me they were having a baby, but right here tonight, I’m green with envy. All because of her. Sawyer. Jase and I met in college. While he was hitting the gym or going to practice, me and a few of our other buddies were hanging out at a local pizza joint working on our pool game. Jase hates that I’m better than him. At least I used to be. It’s been a while since I’ve played. I need to pull my head out of my ass and stop thinking about my assistant, who is just upstairs, or I might lose my winning streak.“I’m gonna head out,” I say, placing my pool stick on the rack a couple of hours later.
“It’s like that, is it?” Jase laughs.
“What? Beating your ass three games in a row isn’t enough?” He mumbles something under his breath I can’t make out. That’s fine, though. I don’t need to know what he’s saying to know he’s irritated that he only won one of the four games we played. I might have even let him win that one, but I’m not telling him that.
“I need to check on Sam anyway.” Turning off the lights, we head back upstairs to find the women right where we left them. Sam is smiling, holding her belly while Sawyer is standing, acting something out. “Looks like we got here just in time for a good one,” Jase says, going straight to the couch and taking a seat next to Sam.
I should head home, but the smile that’s lighting up Sawyer’s face, the carefree look in her eyes, has me taking my spot in the chair across from her. I open my mouth to ask her what she’s doing, but Sam beats me to it.
“You’re killing me, Sawyer,” she says, wiping her eyes.
“What did we miss?” Jase asks.
“She was just reenacting how she kicked her last boss in the balls.”
My eyes widen. This is news to me. I’m irritated she didn’t tell us, or if she did, Gail kept it from me, and I’m pissed off because she was in a position where she felt like kneeing the jackass in the balls was her only option. “Sawyer—” I start, and she turns to face me.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Riggins, I mean, Mr. Royce, sir, your balls are safe from me.” There is a slight slur to her voice, and I can’t help but wonder how many glasses of wine she’s had. Not to mention the fact that my balls are tight and aching for her.
“He deserved it,” Sam chimes in. She’s completely sober, but she’s acting as though she’s also had one too many.
“Babe? You been drinking?” Jase raises a brow in question, but there is a smirk tilting his lips that tells me he’s just giving her a hard time.
“Jase Andrews, I should kick your ass. You know better than that.” She rubs her belly affectionately.
I watch as Jase reaches over and places his hands on hers. “I’m sorry, baby, and I’ve only seen you like this when you’ve been drinking. You ladies look like you’ve been hitting the happy juice.”
I don’t comment on the fact that they only dated for a hot minute before he knocked her up. I have a feeling my opinions aren’t wanted.