Was Jay doing everything he could to not think about what happened between him and Ryden in Red’s office? Yes. Yes, he was. For the rest of the day, he kept busy and pretended nothing had happened, because itwasnothing. Nothing to see here. He wasn’t going to think about it or wonder why Ryden had kissed him, what it meant, or that Jay had returned his kiss and felt like he would catch fire from the inside out. Nope. Not thinking about it at all.
They’d agreed on a truce, so Jay would focus on getting along with Ryden the same way he did with everyone else at the office. Like the kiss never happened. Just a couple of bros workingtogether. Friends without benefits. It was an improvement on their feud, so he’d take it.
Kiss? What kiss?
CHAPTER FIVE
What the hellhad he gotten himself into?
Ryden pressed his lips together and focused on the task at hand. He closed his eyes and fastened another gleaming gold button. It had been so long….
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“I know,” Ryden replied, appreciating Saint’s support. He opened his eyes and met his best friend’s gaze through the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. “But I need to. This is who I am, and tryin’ to hide from all the fucked-up shit that happened ain’t gonna do me any good.” Not like he could hide from it even if he wanted to.
Ryden’s life had been such a mess. If there was something lower than rock bottom, that’s where he’d been. He wasn’t going back. Not now, not ever. He’d come way too far to screw things up now.
“Did your friend know what he was asking when he approached you?” Saint asked gently.
Ryden fastened another button and sighed. “Remember that night at the tavern? I introduced y’all.”
Breathe.
“Yeah.”
“Well, we talked, and I told him everything.” It had been one of the hardest conversations of his life. Despite years of talking about his past, telling another Marine, one he’d served with, where he’d been before ending up with the Kings had been painful, but at least the feelings of shame he’d once had were gone.
Saint nodded. “How’d he take it?”
“First, he was shocked, then pissed.”
Saint stood and shoved his hands into his suit pants pockets. “Sounds about right. They should have taken care of you. You lost your fucking eyesight and—” He shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Your rage tells me you love me,” Ryden teased, making Saint chuckle.
“Ass.”
“Anyway, we talked. He was hurt that I hadn’t asked him for help, but he understood. Hard to ask for help when you’re too proud to admit you need it.”
Looking back, Ryden would have done things so differently. But he’d been young, proud, and all kinds of messed up. But that was the past, and he’d worked hard to put it behind him so he could focus on the present and his future. Head held high, he turned. “Thanks for comin’ with me.”
“Of course,” Saint replied with a smile. He placed his hand on Ryden’s shoulder and squeezed. “Let’s do this.” Saint headed for the office door—because, holy shit, Ryden had his own office now—and Ryden followed.
Inhaling deeply through his nose and releasing it through his mouth, he stepped outside, shaking his head at the catcalls and whistles from everyone in the office. Saint had received the first round when he’d stepped out of Lucky’s office all snazzied up in his charcoal gray suit and tie.
“Damn, Marine. Look at you,” Joker said, leaning against Jay’s desk.
Ace whistled. “Looking slick, cowboy.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ryden waved them off just as Jay walked out of King’s office.
“What’s everyone—” He gasped, his eyes going huge when he saw Ryden. Jay shut his mouth, and the box he’d been carrying exploded, dozens of pink highlighters soaring through the air. They bounced and rolled on the carpet in every direction. Something told Ryden that Ace had placed another stationery order. Whenever bright pink office supplies showed up, it was down to Ace messing with them.
“Shit.” Jay hurried to round up the highlighters, and Ryden went to help, but Jay threw a hand up. “It’s fine. I got this. You’ll get wrinkled.”
Ryden nodded but didn’t respond. Speaking of pink. Did Jay know how flushed his cheeks were? Not that Ryden was about to mention it. Since that day in Red’s office, they’d been tiptoeing around each other. Ryden hated it. He’d never admit it, but he missed his little office battles with Jay. Hell, he’d even take Jay throwing a romance novel at his head. Instead, there was polite…civility, and it sucked.
Saint’s phone rang, and he picked up. “Hey, Kazi. We were just—what?”
