Page 181 of The Girlfriend Clause
I resisted the urge to jog over and picked up my stride instead. She looked so composed and elegant, leaning in like she was listening to someone.
I stopped.
Shewaslistening to someone. Was thatToby?What thehell?
He was far too close, leaning over her with his arm draped across her shoulders.
I stayed where I was.
Andrea nodded at something he said. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t lean away either. What were they talking about? She’d clearly been unimpressed by him over dinner yesterday. Should I intervene?
But Andrea was perfectly capable of handling an awkward conversation. She didn’t need me inventing reasons to step in like some sort of caveman.
She lifted her glass, took a small sip, then set it back down.
Toby said something else, his mouth curving as he leaned closer. I saw Andrea’s shoulders tense, then she shifted on the stool, turning slightly toward the bar, pulling her elbow toward her body.
He bent closer, then whispered in her ear, placing a hand on her arm.
Everything around me stilled. I saw her free hand come up, fingers brushing her throat. She held it there, a shiver passing over her shoulders.
A reflex.
She’suncomfortable.
I felt the hesitation snap and crossed the floor quickly, stopping just short of them. Up close, her lips were tight, arms pulled into herself.
I stood over him.
“Oh.” Toby’s head tipped back and his eyes flashed like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. “Roth. Good to—”
“You’re done here, Toby. Fuck off.”
Andrea glanced up at me.
“We were just talking, Roth. No need to get twitchy.” He smirked, but his face was pale beneath the swagger.
My hands at my sides itched to turn into fists. I flexedthem outward. It had been a long time since I’d seen a face as punchable as Toby’s.
He held my gaze a moment longer than necessary, then the self-confident smile slipped back into place. He rolled his eyes.
“So sensitive, Roth. I was leaving anyway.”
And then he was gone.
Andrea was watching my face.
“Shall we get out of here?” I asked.
“Where?”
“A walk? Down by the lake. It’s quieter.”
She slipped off her shoes and picked them up with one hand.
“Well?” she said. “Come on then.”
*
