Then again, Taylor is a nephew by marriage. Technically family, right? I wonder how much the Calloways are involved in these little piddly things. Do they read the newsletters, too?
I don’t think Taylor himself has much influence or deciding power. I actually think they allow him to run these meetings to keep him busy. He’s a bit of a pain in the ass.
My attention drifts to Lie. He and Cash are no longer whispering but looking between the people talking. I have a good view of him right here. He’s in the row in front of the one Nasonand I are in and a couple chairs to the right. Which means I have his profile when he’s looking forward.
I’m sure he feels me watching him. His lips twitch from time to time, probably because I’m staring.
My dick has been in that mouth. Between those lips. Touching the back of his throat. A thrill of excitement shivers down my spine. The event hasn’t been repeated and I haven’t had a chance to get him in my mouth over the last several days, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
I’m going to make him feel so good. I can’t wait to feel him explode in my mouth.
Nason nudges me and I wince. Fuck. Did he just catch me staring at his son?
I meet his eyes. He’s looking at me with amusement. When I’m clearly not following, he chuckles and nods toward the front.
Everyone is twisted in their seats, looking at me. Did they all catch me staring at Lie? Fucking hell.
“What?” I ask.
“You weren’t paying attention,” Taylor says.
“Sorry. Grass height is a waste of my time. I’m waiting for the important topics,” I deadpan.
Snickers fill the room. I can tell by the way Taylor looks affronted that the topic was his own. No one else gives a shit about how tall the grass is.
“You’re nominated for managing the bars on Kala,” Lie helpfully supplies. I meet his eyes and my heart jumps at the pride I see in his face.
“I’m sorry, what?” I look at Taylor again.
He’s looking rather smug as he repeats Lie’s words. “You’ve been nominated for the management position of the bars,” Taylor says, as if this is a huge honor.
It is. Management positions are kind of like elections on Kala. I feel pretty humbled by it. However, that doesn’t mean anything when I know Taylor is part of the hiring committee.
“No.”
The shock on his face almost has me smiling. “I’m sorry. I thought you said no,” he stammers.
“Correct. I’m not interested in your games or the hoops you make candidates jump through. Find someone else.”
Beside me, Nason covers his mouth to hide his laughter.
Taylor stares at me with his mouth open. Seconds pass in which the room fills with quiet laughter. Taylor isn’t used to being told no and that someone won’t play his games.
“This is a big honor,” Taylor says. “You should be?—”
“If there was anyone else offering it, I would be incredibly humbled and willing to consider the position,” I interrupt. “But I’mnotgoing to play your games. I don’t care who you are on this island; your games are asinine, and I won’t participate. Find someone else.”
“Actually, I rescind my agreement to the nomination of Historic Committee Manager,” Frances Pillsworth says. “I’m with Laiken. I have no interest in games either. It’s far too exhausting and I have far more important things to do than stroke your ego.”
I guess I missed the part of the meeting where we moved into the open management positions. I wonder how many people stepped back because they had to deal with Taylor regularly. My wondering is slightly mollified when Eddy Derkin says, “I didn’t know this was an option. I’m stepping down from Community Engagement Manager. You’re far too troublesome to deal with daily.”
There’s a moment when the entire room seems to speak at once. Taylor looks like there’s been shots fired, all aimed directly at his chest.
Oops. I might have just started a revolution. The crowd gets louder as people talk over each other. More stepping down. More backing out of their ballots for various management positions.
“Old man Calloway is going to love this,” Nason says, laughing.
Lie twists in his chair, a big smile on his face. “Look what you did, Laiken.”
