Stuart’s light-blue eyes twinkled. “No worries. I’ll get my food to go.”
They all laughed, and Grady checked his watch. “They say to meet at the hotel bar. See you all later.”
We waved off the four, who set off in the direction of the front door. I took out my car keys. “Ready to go? I figured the playbill first and the bar second?”
Before Grady could answer, Brenner walked out with his partner, Manny. The guy he was with at lunch. My eyes narrowed at the light, easy laughter between them. I remembered Brenner used to be the same around Bailey Marks. Why the hell was Brenner such a grouch with me? All I ever saw was a perpetual scowl.
“Stop staring,” Grady murmured.
“You’re being ridiculous. Let’s go. I want to win this thing.” I strode away, walking past Brenner and his friend. “Just like old times, right, Brenner?” I gave him my sunniest smile and watched the lines of anger cut a deeper groove in his face.
Was I being childish? Yep.
Did I care? Nope.
I had no idea why, but I was going to make sure I came out on top.
Chapter Nine
Brenner
It wasn’t until we were in the car, on the way to the high school, that Manny started questioning me.
“So what’s with that guy?”
Of course I knew whom he meant, but I feigned ignorance. “What guy? There were more than thirty people in there.”
“The one who almost knocked into you and said something about old times.”
“Weston. I told you about him at lunch, remember?”
“Yeah, but he’s deliberately baiting you.” Manny’s brows drew together. “I thought you didn’t know him well, but he acts like you do.”
If knowing him well meant touching his dick and watching him come all over my hand—then, yeah. We were fucking besties.
“We never liked each other. He’s one of those silver-spoon kids—you know, rich family, prep schools. The attitude grated on me. Plus, we were always rivals for first in class,Law Review.” Thinking back, it all seemed so silly, especially now that we were working for the same firm.
“Ah. I get it now. And he would come out on top?”
“Put it this way: Weston Lively doesn’t like to lose.”
Manny’s smile flashed big and bright. “Then he’s gonna be real mad when we beat the pants off him.”
“Yeah,” I responded, sounding weak as hell.
All I could think of was Weston’s pants around his ankles. The burn of his hot, throbbing dick in my hand. Lips on mine, demanding and hard.Fuck. Why did this keep happening? As if I could push the memory out of my head, I rubbed my face.
“You okay?” Manny peered at me.
“Yeah. I’m good. Maybe when we go to the bar to get our item, we can grab something to eat.”
“Sounds like a plan. I wouldn’t mind a quick beer.”
Once we left the corporate park where the hotel was located, the car took us through a pretty town. We were headed to the high school to try and find a football T-shirt, which we assumed would be sold in the school itself. But when we arrived and tried to open the door, we discovered it was locked.
“Damn.” Annoyed that our plan was stymied, I scanned the grounds and spotted the football team practicing on the field and pointed. “Look. They must have a spare shirt, and if not, maybe we can pay them to give us one of their extras.”
“Good idea,” Manny agreed. “Like a donation to the team. Schools are always looking for money.”
