“I’ll let you know. But only verified buyers are getting invitations. I will not be on that list.”
He takes a sip of his drink. “Why does that date sound familiar?”
I grimace, wishing he hadn’t already put it together. “It’s Clara’s wedding.”
“And Representative Westerhouse is hosting? Shit, kid. If we’re assuming correctly, that’s one messed up guest list.”
“Yup.”
“You invited?”
I scoff. “Right. Like they’d be okay with her other boyfriends attending?”
Reed smirks, like he’s so smart he’s figured out what we all are to each other—he literally saw her passed between all of us in the front lawn last winter.
It’s not important. Not now. I don’t mention that despite what I just said, Walker is at a tux fitting right now. We needed at least one of us to stand up with them, to be the distraction while Clara and Trips are locked into carefully kept itineraries. We’d planned on Jansen originally, but Walker’s a solid second choice. I’m just glad Clara forced the invitation. Or maybe Trips did. Not that I want to give him any credit.
Reed covers his smirk with his fingers. “Well, I’m going to find a reason to be over in that neck of the woods that night, but I’m not sure I’ll have any backup. Not if we can’t get into the auction website.”
I stand, done. “Find a way in. I’m not going to be much help from here on out. Those girls? They’re your responsibility now. I’m not a cop. And I’m not a hero.”
He sets down his prop beer, having not taken a sip. “Got it. If you change your mind on either of those things—” He slides a card across the table, and I know he’s offering me a spot working for the cops.
“No thanks. I’ve got a job,” I say, turning away from the man.
I like the one I’ve got, at least when we’re all together.
The visit a bust, I message Jansen, giving him the thumbs up to buy the guns and blanks. It’s almost go-time.
Chapter 48
Walker
Leaving the high-end tux shop knowing that Jansen is somewhere nearby invisibly watching me adds to my already fraught nerves. I was measured, pinned, and tucked, all in silence with no sign of Trips…it felt like I was being fitted for a coffin instead of a suit.
Knowing that Jansen is around helps, though. At least enough to trudge through the muck on the sidewalk until I get to the jewelry shop I scoped out online.
While I could probably make the things I want myself, they wouldn’t be as nice as what this woman can do. She’s a master of her trade. And as I’m currently working on tricky machine prototypes, I don’t have the time anyway.
The bell rings above me as I step in, the artist herself sitting behind the counter, a collection of tools scattered around her at her worktable. “Hello!” she chirps.
I force a smile onto my face. It’s getting harder and harder to pretend with every passing day. “Hi. I was wondering if I could hire you to commission two pieces for me?”
She immediately sets aside her tools, wiping her hands on her apron. I place my sketchbook on the counter, opening to the drawings I’d been noodling around with when I can’t sleep. She adds a few technical adjustments, and we come to an agreement on materials and an estimated price.
The bell rings as I’m pulling out my card for my down payment, and I turn to find Jansen, furry hood up and giant mittens on, striding toward me. “Jay—” I admonish.
“What? You’ve been in here forever, and I want to see what kind of present you’re getting our girl.”
The woman blinks at us both, then ducks her head with a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Plus,” Jansen continues, “I might want to get her something, too.” He walks up to the display cases, pulling off his mittens and jamming them into his coat pockets.
We all have personal funds. I haven’t really spent any of mine for over a year. None of us have—they’ve been off limits. But we’re nearly at the end. I figure I can’t ruin much at this point. And even if Trips’ awful father is still watching our accounts, a purchase at a jewelry store shouldn’t look threatening.
Hopefully.
I just can’t wait any longer. Every day is excruciating, and soon, she’ll be legally tied to just one of us. I said I’d work on my jealousy, and I have, but I’m not letting her go through life without staking my claim. Even if it’s just a token, I want herto have something from me she can carry with her, whatever the future brings.
