He tilted his head and looked at me speculatively.Despite the chill in the air, my cheeks flushed with warmth.A lock of his tousled hair fell rakishly across his forehead, and I resisted the urge to reach out and brush it back.
“You’re officially beginning your fourth week of your internship.Overall assessment?”
“It’s been amazing, honestly.Everyone has been so welcoming, and the work is challenging in the best way possible.”I paused, chewing my lip.“Although, I have to admit, I didn’t anticipate acquiring a new ‘bestie’ in the process.”
Emmett barked out a laugh.“That’s Meghan for you.She’s a force to be reckoned with.But you seem to be holding your own.”
My cheeks grew hotter under his admiring gaze.“She’s nothing like she was when I first met her.”I weighed my words carefully.“I could see myself being friends with this version of her.”
He nodded.“She was having a hard time back then, not that it’s any excuse.She was a brat—I remember it well.But she’s a good person and a good friend.I’m lucky to have her.”
“It’s sweet how close you two are.”
“It can be kind of isolating,” he said with a shrug.“Most people think that money solves everything, but when you’re a kid being brought up in that kind of environment, it’s hard to find your people.Meghan and I both got lucky when I met Wick.He’s like a brother to her, too.”
“How did you two meet?”
A fond smile broke across his face.He practically glowed.
Emmett Price is a beautiful man.
“I begged my mom to let me go to basketball camp the summer after I turned fifteen.I wanted to do somethingnormalfor once.On our first night there, I got into my first fistfight.”
“Let me guess…with Wick?”
“Yep.He called me a rich prick, and I called him a piece of trash.We were both sent to the counselor’s office and forced to sit there for hours until our parents came to get us.Well, his dad came to get him—very obviously drunk—and mydrivercame.I guess we took one look at the other’s situation and the resentment fell away.You can never truly understand another person’s demons until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, you know?”
I nodded along.Most people didn’t understand wheremydemons came from.Emmett continued.
“Anyway, my dad made me call and apologize when he got home from traveling later that week.Mom never really bothered disciplining us, but Dad didn’t let us get away with shit.I called, apologized, and we got to talking about basketball.The rest, as they say, is history.”
At that moment, Wick stepped between us and slung an arm around each of our shoulders.“Ask him how much his pretty little face bled when I sucker punched him.”
I shook my head, fighting a smile.“Boys.”They both laughed.
At the restaurant, Emmett held the door for me—and Wick, I supposed, since he was still draped across my shoulders.A waft of toasty air and the aroma of grilled meats swarmed around us as we entered.
The hostess led us to a room at the back where Meghan and a dozen people I didn’t know sat at a long wooden table.As we stepped further into the dimly lit space, I experienced a twinge of nervousness.I had grown comfortable around Emmett and Meghan, but the idea of a larger social gathering with Meghan’s friends made me anxious.
She stood as we entered, her face lighting up.“There you guys are!I was starting to think you bailed on me.”
“And miss your birthday?Never, Meggy.”Wick pulled her into a tight hug and Emmett did the same.
“Happy birthday, little sister.”
“Thanks, bro!And thank you for forcing Callie to come.Shedefinitely would have bailed without an escort.”
“Not true,” I said, but my protest lacked conviction.“Happy birthday, bestie.”
Meghan winked at me and told us to grab a seat.“We still have a few more on their way, but sit wherever!”
Noticing my apprehension, Emmett guided me to the far end of the table.“Come on.I’ll protect you from the vultures,” he whispered.I was grateful.Without having to say a word, he seemed to read me like his favorite book.
We settled in our seats.Wick, who had been openly flirting with multiple women at the table, took the seat on my other side.Sandwiched between the two most attractive men I had ever set eyes on, I perused the list of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts.I noted the conspicuous absence of prices.
Ah, it’sthatkind of establishment.
I’d probably have to put my lunch on my credit card.
