“I was?” I ask, my eyebrows shooting to my hairline.
James sighs. “Yes, dickwad. I believe your words were, ‘Not gonna lie… wow.’” He gives me a pointed look. How he remembers shit like this, I’ll never know. “And anyway, Caleb, it’s not like I knew she was yours at the time. You kinda kept it a secret that you were dating your student.”
“Damn straight I did. I got enough shit from Noah, I didn’t need to add you to the mix as well,” Caleb exclaims.
I roll the sleeves on my shirt up, shifting into referee mode, only this particular referee is gonna stir it some more.
“James, how’s Raven?” I ask innocently. “Drew’s daughter was looking pretty fucking fine when I saw her last.”
“I suggest you shut your fucking mouth right now,” James growls, his hands clenching around his beer bottle.
Fanning my face, I declare, “Woooo, I’m slightly turned on by your behavior.” I fake shiver in excitement as I bounce around in my chair. “Growl again, Daddy. Ilikedit.”
“You disgust me,” Noah drawls from his place in the corner.
“No one asked you, fuckface,” I sing-song, giving him a huge grin. “Just go back to your brooding ways while the big boys talk, mmmkay?”
Noah puts his middle finger up, then goes back to his brooding.
He hates me. Why does he hate me? What have I done this time?
“Anyway, getting off topic.” I look over at James, leaning my head in my hands and trying to ignore Noah’s attitude toward me. “You were saying about Raven?”
“I wasn’t saying shit.”
“I’m so confused,” Caleb groans. “Why do you do this to me? What have I missed now?”
I wave Caleb off, suddenly feeling bad for James. “That’s his story to tell.” I gesture to James and sit back in my chair, huffing out a laugh. “Jesus, have you ever noticed how I’m the one holding all of your secrets here?”
James rolls his eyes. “That’s because you’re our lawyer. Client confidentiality.”
“Hmm, still makes me feel special though, the fact that I’m always the first to know.”
Yeah, I’m aware that I’m fishing for compliments right now, but I need the intrusive voices to shut the fuck up.
Caleb pats my back and gives me a wide smile. “That’s because you are special, man.”
“Tell me more,” I say, giving him an exaggerated wink.
“Aw, is needy Viking feeling unloved?” Caleb coos, stroking my hair.
I nod emphatically. “Uh huh.”
“Get a room, you two.” James laughs, but he watches me like a hawk.
I seriously wish I’d never said anything. This is what happens when I’m going out of my mind and need to talk—Dadgoes into overprotective mode, and I end up being smothered, only not in a good way.
I wonder if I ask Caleb to braid my hair, would he?
That’s a conversation for another day. I bet he would though.
“I’m always feeling needy. You guys don’t appreciate me and my humor. It gets so lonely.” I pout, and like the good little boy he is, Caleb falls for it.
“Wanna come over next weekend and watch the game? Lauren’s with Sydney, so I have the place to myself.”
“You really do love me,” I gush, wiping a fake tear from my eye.
Noah chimes in, “Can we please get rid of him?”
