Over the last week and a half, I’d convinced myself I’d overreacted to Joey. He was just a guy who had imbibed a little too much one night and thought he was being flirty. It wasn’t a big deal.
Now, seeing him again, I was right back to being uncomfortable.
“It’s good to see you.” He leaned closer and I took an involuntary step back. “I was hoping to run into you again.”
That made one of us. I was still debating how to extricate myself from this situation—the hallway was small and cramped, and there was no exit for me to find unless I wanted to hunker down in the bathroom—when someone appeared in the hallway behind Joey. I couldn’t make out facial features. Joey was too close, and there was no seeing around him. I did recognize the khakis, though.
“There you are!” Brody didn’t sound impatient or even angry. He reached around Joey and grabbed my hand. I didn’t fight him. Instead, I laced my fingers through his. “I’ve been waiting for you. Are you ready for dinner?”
Dinner? What’s he even talking about?Then I realized he was saving me and nodded, meeting his gaze around Joey’s shoulder.
“I’m starving,” I said, a little bit breathless, my irritation from moments before forgotten. “I’m totally ready for dinner.”
10
TEN
When Bree left me with Blair, I instantly wanted to follow her but was too shocked to make my legs move properly. It wasn’t because Blair was rude to her or unnaturally aggressive. It was because Bree was familiar with my work. Obviously, she’d read my books. Everything she’d said about Basilica had been spot-on. Not that Blair wanted to hear it.
I was still absorbing the fact that Bree had read my books when she took off, probably annoyed that I hadn’t at least admonished Blair about being so aggressive. Bree was gone in a shot, and I was left to extricate myself from a superfan before I could follow. I wasn’t planning on chasing her into the bathroom—I was the king of boundaries—but I did plan on apologizing away from the waning crowd. Instead, I found Bree being harassed by freaking Joey again.
What is it with that guy? Why is he even here?
I reacted immediately. The only thought in my head was getting her out of the corner she was boxed into, a spot where she was especially vulnerable. I had never been so relieved in my life when she took my hand without giving me a hard time. It would make things easier.
“You again,” Joey drawled.
I opted to play ignorant. “Do I know you?” Bree’s body brushed against mine as I put myself between her and the creeper, which was how I’d started referring to him in my head.
“I met you at the last event.” There was an edge to Joey’s voice, telling me he didn’t like hearing that I’d forgotten who he was.
“Huh,” I said, lifting one shoulder. “Sorry. Did I sign something for you?”
It was an innocent enough question on the face of it. In truth, I was elevating myself in his estimation. Not because I thought I was better or anything—I just wanted to remind him that the event organizers would call security on my behalf if necessary.
“No,” Joey sneered. “I don’t read about elfs.”
“Elves,” I automatically corrected then wished I’d kept my mouth shut. “Thanks for coming.” I beamed a bright smile that I didn’t feel. “We have dinner reservations, though. I don’t want to be late.” I gripped Bree’s hand tighter. “I have to keep my girl fed.”
Now, Bree was not my girlfriend. She was a girl, but she wasn’t even my friend. Or… at least I mostly still believed that. I couldn’t help drawing a line in the sand despite that fact. I wanted to dissuade Joey from approaching her again. He was likely just a guy who had a crush on an author.Those things happen.Just ask Blair Bernstein.
Bree was obviously uncomfortable around him, however, and I couldn’t tolerate that. She deserved to feel safe. Everybody did.
“Your girl, huh?” Joey’s expression was hard to read as it bounced between us. Ultimately, he shrugged. “Have a nice dinner.” He brushed past me aggressively when heading down the hallway. The look he shot Bree was different but somehow still intimidating.
Once he was gone, I turned my attention to Bree. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m okay. I just wasn’t expecting him.”
“Where was he?”
“Just outside the bathroom.”
I looked at the hallway again. “Do you think he knew you were in there, or was he doing something else?”
“What would he be doing in a dark hallway outside the bathrooms?”
I shrugged. “Looking for a quiet place to make a call? The bar got pretty loud.”
