“Oh.” My smile falls at the sight of Jenson standing in a black suit on the other side.
“All right, Sinclair?” He grins and walks inside.
I check the empty hallway behind him before I close the door.
“Where’s Denver?”
“It’s your lucky day, you’ve got me instead.” He bends to fuss Monty as he trots over to him. “Nice sweater, bro.”
“The Vivienne Westwood team sent it to him. We were doing pictures for his Instagram account,” I say as Monty soaks up Jenson’s attention.
“Workout with Brad today, then? Followed by a casting?” Jenson says, glancing at me.
“Yeah,” I murmur. “So… Denver?”
“Family emergency.” He continues ruffling the hair on Monty’s head.
“Family emergency?”
Jenson chuckles at Monty. “You’re looking sharp, bro. I’m digging it.”
“Denver hasn’t mentioned any family to me.” I stuff my water bottle into my gym bag as I study him.
“He’s a private guy.” Jenson stands and looks at me. “You ready?”
“Yeah, one sec.” I falter as my two travel mugs catch my gaze.
“Ooh, nice. For me?” Jenson lifts up one and sniffs it. “Ah, of course, for our man, Denver. Well, he’s not here, so I’m sure he won’t mind.” He winks before sipping it and wincing. “You got any milk?”
“Sure.” I point at the refrigerator. Jenson strides over and fixes the coffee.
“You and me are going to have fun today. You won’t even miss him,” he says as he walks over and takes my bag for me.
I arch a brow. “Like there’s a chance I’d miss him. This is me and Denver, remember? My father forced us together. It wasn’t by choice.”
The words feel deceitful as they leave my mouth, even though they’d have felt so natural only weeks ago. I press my lips together.
Jenson slurps his coffee noisily as he looks at me. “That’s exactly what he said.”
“What?” I scoff. “Seriously? He complained about being with me?”
My stomach drops, and I shove the weird sinking feeling away, instead replacing it with a burst of fire. How dare he?
“I asked for you or Killian if you recall? So if Denver’s going around saying?—”
“Nah, I’m just messing.” Jenson grins. “He didn’t say anything. But I’ll be sure to tell him you didn’t miss him one bit after the amazing day you had with me.”
I roll my eyes and shove playfully at his chest as I pass him to get Monty. “You’re a jackass.”
“Told you you’d have fun with me.” He chuckles behind me. “Now let’s go see Brad Garett-Charles. Because Denver sure as hell did have a word or two to say about him. I want to meet this douche.”
I snort. “Brad’s great, I don’t know what Denver’s issue with him is.”
“He said Monty doesn’t like him.”
“Monty loves him,” I lie. “You’ll see.”
I can hear Jenson’s chuckles as Monty shifts on the bench seat of the studio, his muzzle exposing his teeth as he growls.
