I shrug. “I’m sure most of Titus’ staff is going.”
When Titus mentions things like this around the office, people take interest. It’s how I met Tate, to begin with. I take a large gulp of my drink to wash away the memory of that entire relationship. I’m pretty sure Tate only wanted to get back together with me because he thought it would help him get a major raise or get him closer to becoming a partner now that one of the guys is retiring.
As if that would make a difference to Titus. Then again, my stepfather treated him like a son. The way he treatedall of our friends. The thought brings an uncomfortable feeling to my chest, and I instantly glare at Finn for his implications. My stepfather is known for being a shark in the courtroom, but everyone knows he’s a huge teddy bear and genuinely cares about people.
“You didn’t tell me Tate was going,” Tiago says beside me.
“I’m not sure that he is. It’s just what everyone assumes since he always goes.”
“Maybe we should go together. I mean, the internet is always trying to figure out whether or not we’re dating,” Tiago suggests.
Livie snorts. “I’m sure that’s why you want to go with her.”
I shoot her a warning look. I feel eyes on me and look at Finn, who looks pissed off as he studies Tiago.
“Our agent’s here,” Hamilton says, shooting back his drink, and setting the empty glass on the table. He looks at me and Livie. “Let me know about the fundraiser.”
“We will,” Livie says.
“Thanks for the drink,” Finn says, setting down his empty glass.
He looks at me one last time before walking away. I stare at their backs as they go, and notice the people around them halt mid-conversation to look. It doesn’t matter that they’re all wealthy or distinguishable. The rest of them aren’t Hamiltons or Barlows. I let out a breath and continue speaking to my friends. An hour goes by before I announce I’m going to leave. Tiago agrees that he should go as well, since he doesn’t want me to be more well-rested than him tomorrow morning. I make it a point not to look in Finn’s direction, but I swear I feel his eyes burning into me as we leave.
17
JOSSLYN
Finn: did you go home with him?
Butterflies take flight in my belly, but I instantly push them away, ashamed of their presence. He must have texted after I switched my phone off. I should respond and tell him to go to hell. It’s where he deserves to be. Instead, I ignore him and silently curse my mother, who ingrained the mentality "Be kind, everyone is going through something" in my brain. I grab my water jug, keys, and phone, and start walking toward the door just as the doorbell rings. I open it and smile at Tiago.
“Impeccable timing.”
He winks. “Something I’m known for.”
I laugh as I walk out and lock the door. “That, and your humility, no doubt.”
“Humility is overrated.”
“Apparently, it’s a hot commodity these days,” I say.
He squints as we reach the elevator. “Is it?”
“Considering no one I know hasmuch of it, I’d say it is.”
We normally jog to the park, but today, we decide to walk. As we do, I snap pictures of us and post them in my stories, and he does the same.
“Coach will be proud,” I say, smiling as I respond to some private messages.
Tiago laughs as he types out a caption for his post. Coach Ogwumike loves it when we play against the men’s team. She says our game improves tremendously each time we do it, and we all agree. It helps that we’re all competitive and have major shit-talkers with chips on their shoulders on both our teams.
Tiago stops bouncing the ball suddenly and says, “I guess Hamilton wasn’t kidding about coming to watch us.”
I glance up from my phone and see Damian, and sure enough, Hamilton’s there, but it’s Finn’s presence that makes my heart drop. I left him on read, and now I’m walking up to the court with Tiago. He’s definitely going to think we slept together. Maybe it’s better that he gets the wrong idea. It’ll make him leave me alone and move on quicker. That thought really shouldn’t make my stomach turn, but it does.
“You brought a crowd,” Tiago says as we reach them.
Finn’s eyes lock on mine, and what I find in them makes me hug my water jug closer to my chest to fight a shiver. I greet everyone the way I always do, with a quick hug. My pulse thunders in my ears as I reach him. The scent of his cologne hits me first, and it takes everything for me not to inhale deeper as I lean in.
