“There you are!” Cat says with relief. “I’ve been looking for you two all night.”
Brinley frowns. “Don’t you live in the same building? Why didn’t you come together?”
Cat smiles. “Because my date didn’t think ahead and rent a limo like Pippa’s did.”
“You rented a limo?” Nate arches a brow. “It was a five-block trip.”
“You mean, ‘nice one, Jacob, it was a really sweet idea,’” I say, and smack him on the elbow.
Jacob and the other guys all gape at me with wide eyes, like they can’t believe what I just did. I guess in their eyes, it’s crazy to smack Nate Walsh, the world’s grumpiest CEO, even in jest.
But Nate just chuckles. “Sorry, you’re right.”
“You should be taking notes from Jacob, if you want to keep this one happy,” I say, gesturing at Cat.
“She’s easy to keep happy,” Nate says. “A croissant a day, and she’s completely satisfied.”
“Should I be providing you with daily pastries?” Jacob asks, running his thumb up and down my side. It gives me chills—but not the good kind. Him touching me still feels soweird.
I can’t help glancing over to Ryan at the bar. One of the models is bending over, presumably to fix a strap on her shoe. Obviously, she’s only doing it to show off her unbelievable ass, the kind you can only get from genetics. I could spend two hours in the gym every day and never look like her. When she stands back up, she swings her hair back in a golden halo.
She’s putting on a show for Ryan, who isn’t even looking at her. Instead, his eyes scan the crowd. For a brief second, we make eye contact. Then he slowly, deliberately puts his arm around the model, his hand grazing her lower back before it settles on her waist.
Asshole.
I know he’s messing with me, mirroring Jacob’s exact position. It makes me want to storm over there and throw my wine in his face. But that would just be giving him what he wanted—sabotaging a possible relationship with Jacob to keep wasting time on Ryan.
I clear my throat and change the subject to the other friend not joining the group. “Where’s James?”
“Schmoozing,” the guys answer in unison.
“We never get to see him at New Year’s,” Luke explains. “He has to go around shaking hands and having big boy business talks.”
“To be fair, James only shows up to any parties if he’s got a business reason,” Nate points out. “He’s not exactly the party animal of the group.”
“He’s also the only one we’ve never seen puke,” Beau sighs. “Holds his liquor scary well for a guy who barely drinks.”
“So, Pippa, are you coming to poker night on Wednesday?” Luke asks.
“I didn’t know I was invited.”
“You are now,” Beau says. “After what you pulled in the last game, you’ve got an open invite to all poker activities. It’s worth it, to see Ryan’s face when you beat him again.”
“I don’t know.” I glance back up at Ryan, who’s back to ignoring the model. “I see enough of Ryan as it is. I don’t need an extra dose.”
“What about the rest of us?” Luke smiles broadly. “We’re good company.”
Beau elbows him. “Give it up, dude. She’s here with a date.”
Jacob chuckles, removing his hand from my waist only to take my hand in his. It feels warm and dry andwrong.
As the others chat, Jacob lowers his voice, giving my hand a squeeze. “You okay?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve gone kind of…somewhere else.”
I paste on a smile that feels tight around the edges. “Sorry. Just taking it all in. This is…a lot.”
