Page 95 of Lucky Puck
“Try me.”
I give him a look and shake my head. No way I’m opening up the mysterious vault of my current relationship with Brooks. Too many feelings may jump out.
“Shit,” I mutter, pushing a hand through my unruly hair. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Look, I know you have feelings for her. It’s as plain as an empty net goal.”
“Of course I have feelings for her,” I kid, rolling my eyes as if it’s no big deal. “Not romantic feelings. She’s Brooks. I respect her professionally. And we get along. We’re friends.” And we have this amazing sexual chemistry. I stop talking because I can’t stand the knowing smirk on Sabien’s face. I elbow him.
He chuckles. “This is more fun than it should be.”
“What?” I snap under my breath as I feel my glower deepen.
“You falling in love—”
“What the fuck? Don’t even think that. You can’t be serious?” My outrage sputters from me as my heart suddenly hammers like it’s getting ready to run.
Lifting both hands to my head, I shove them through my hair, barely resisting the temptation to pull it out. Shit. Shit. Shit. What if he’s right?
I feel like I’m going to lose my non-existent breakfast, and the plane hasn’t even lifted off the ground.
“Take it easy. It’s not the end of the world. After all, you’re already married and sleeping—”
“Shut the fuck up.” I glare at him. His words sound somehow disrespectful, like I’m using her, and nothing could be farther from the truth.
“All I mean is you’re in the perfect position to test out your relationship and see how far your feelings go.” The way he looks at me, more compassionate and serious than I’ve ever seen him, is like the final snick on the lock of my vault.
Feelings pummel me from inside, violently demanding release, and I can barely control them, can’t get a read on them as I try to hold it together.
“That’s exactly what I’m fucking afraid of,” I grit out the words and take a deep, shuddering breath. “Been there. Done that. Never going back.” I fold my arms across my chest as if that’ll protect my thudding heart from Cupid’s dangerous arrows. Or at least slow down the unhealthy thundering.
“But—”
“We’re getting divorced. As of next week.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “What’s the rush?”
“It’s Brooks’ idea.”
His expression goes from shocked to sympathetic quick enough for me to backpedal. If there’s anything I hate even more than this confused messed-up swarm of emotions, it’s misplaced sympathy. Sabien looks like he’s feeling more sorry for me than I am about being benched.
“Don’t get all sappy. It’s for the best. We can’t carry off this fake marriage forever. That would make it a real marriage. This charade needs to end before it blows up. Brooks called it, and I agree a hundred percent.”
“Won’t that affect her job? She can’t still be your agent if you’re divorced. The union would cite that as a conflict of interest.”
I nod. “She’s working on that. I told her I’d help, point some business to the agency.”
He’s quiet for a few beats, staring at me, looking like someone’s mother checking for symptoms of something. I suppress whatever I’m feeling, not wanting to know, but it’s fucking hard to keep my mask in place, to keep the churning in my gut from getting to me.
He nods. “Cherry told me Brooks is thinking of taking on music industry talent. She has a friend who sings?”
I smile, the staccato rhythm of my heart easing up, my unsettled emotions receding from my gut with the safe ground of talking business. “The mysterious Kat. I haven’t met her or heard her sing, so I’m not sure how ready she is for prime time.”
“She’s good. Real good.” Sabien grins. “She’s also hot, which doesn’t hurt.”
“How do you know?”
“We checked out her YouTube channel when Cherry told me about her.” He picks up his phone and scrolls through until he finds what he’s looking for, then he hands it to me.
