“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Danica said. “You didn’t screw up, Taylor. He did.”
Taylor; that would be Danica’s best friend. I’d met her back in the fall, when I first signed with the Players and we’d all spent a few days celebrating with pretty much everyone we knew.
“Nope.” Taylor sniffled. “Uh-uh. I should’ve hooked up with Xander when I had the chance.”
Hmm… juicy. I sipped my eggnog and told myself I should stop eavesdropping.
I kept listening, though.
“You didn’t even like Xander,” Danica said. “He’s not your type.”
“He’s so hot, though. And he seems to treat his girlfriend like gold. Man, I do not know how to pick them.”
“Well, you followed your heart, and he broke it. That’s not your fault.”
I leaned in more as whatever Taylor said in response was muffled by tissues, or maybe a hug.
“Hey, Matt.” I fucking jumped at the sound of Ash’s voice. Right next to me.
“Hey.” I straightened. Ash had just come out of the bedroom and stood there looking at me, beer in hand… all black hair and sharp cheekbones, those vivid blue eyes. A shiver of pure electricity ran down my spine when our eyes locked. He wore tight black jeans and a black T-shirt with nothing on it but a picture of a sprig of mistletoe… right above his dick. I swallowed. “I was just… uh… Taylor’s crying or something,” I said, trying to deflect.
It worked. Ash’s eyebrows twisted in that fierce look of his that probably made Danica’s panties incinerate in a puff of smoke.
Really wouldn’t mind witnessing that.
He leaned in toward the bathroom door. “Really?”
Fortunately the door opened before I could respond. Ash did a weird double-take, and I followed his gaze… to Taylor. She wore a short black party dress that showcased the swell of her tits. She looked great, but her face was pink and puffy from fighting back what had to be tears, snot and a hell of a rough start to the holidays.
“Damn, girl,” Ash muttered. “What happened to your face?”
“My life imploded on it.” Taylor sniffled as Danica slipped out of the bathroom behind her.
“Her life didn’t implode,” Danica said gently. She wore a simple red cocktail dress, short and tight, and red lipstick, her hair curled in loose waves. And the way the fabric smoothed over her curves… she looked red-hot tonight. I tried not to stare, but come on. “Her boss hit on her last night,” she explained, taking Taylor’s hand and giving us the rundown as Taylor cringed. “Then fired her this morning. And tonight, she caught Dominic in her bed with another woman.”
Ash swore softly and pulled Taylor in for a hug.
“And Dominic would be…?” I asked Danica.
“Her boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Taylor stressed, as Ash released her.
“Can’t you take this firing bullshit to HR or something?” he said. “Your boss can’t harass you and then fire you.”
“Yeah, HR would be his wife.”
“Oh. Fuck.”
“How about a lawyer?” I suggested.
But Taylor looked exhausted just thinking about it. “I just don’t think it’s a battle worth fighting, guys. I hated that job anyway. I’m writing a scathing review on Glassdoor and calling it a day. Also, two of my coworkers already served up their notice in solidarity. What goes around comes around. He’ll get his. Eventually.”
I wasn’t sure that was true, but in this case, I hoped so. Ash met my eyes, and I figured he was thinking pretty much the same thing.
“Please stop twisting up your eyebrows like that,” Taylor said to him. “Don’t break me in front of everyone.” She blinked her tears back as Danica put her arm around her and led her out to the living room… leaving me alone with Ash.
Ash arched an eyebrow at me. “Happy holidays? Glad you could make it tonight.”
