“It wasn’t my idea, I swear,” he babbles as I get closer and smack my new bat against my palm. Dramatic? Yes, but worth it to watch his eyes widen in fear. “It was Chad, he wanted Rory…” I growl low and dangerous. “Please, I just do what he says.”
He curls into a ball and whimpers.
Fucking coward.
“I know too much about my dad,” Liv laments when she comes into my office and throws herself dramatically in a chair.
“Oh, was he really unhinged at Mitchell’s?” Tag gasps excitedly.
“Judging by the size of the dildo he made me get and the crazy amount of duct tape… Yeah.” She nods. “Yeah, super unhinged.”
“Alright, boss!” Tag raises his hand for a high five, which I don’t give him. “Where’s the pic?”
Liv pulls out her phone and hands it to Tag.
“Just got my ass owned by the biggest dildo ever, and it came with a free wax!” Tag reads and then loses it laughing. “Jesus, boss, you’re a sick fucker.”
The corner of my lips tries to twitch into a smile. The duct tape was a really sick twist. Mitchell should just be thanking me that I didn’t give him the bat like Tanner got.
“See, I know too much about my dad. He gives free waxes!”
“And he owns asses,” Mal adds.
“Gross, that’s your brother and father,” Tag accuses and clutches his pearls. “I think you both need to get laid if you’re thinking about boss like that.”
“I get laid plenty,” Liv says with authority.
“Mmmm. Tell me all about it,” Tag leers, and Liv flips him off. “What about you, boss? Any hot young nurses you’re thinking about fucking?”
“Enough,” I growl.
“Cause Rory is looking damn?—”
I’ve got him on the floor so fast with my hands around his throat. “Don’t finish that sentence.” His face is turning blue when I finally notice both Liv and Mal trying to pull me off of him.
Tag just grins. The sick fuck. So I squeeze him a bit harder before I let go.
Standing, I straighten my tie and take my chair again.
“Are you trying to get pulled from watching Rory?” Liv hisses.
Tag is rubbing his throat while still sitting on the ground. “No, I’m honored that I get to watch him for you, boss.” And I can tell he’s serious.
“Then why provoke him?” Mal asks.
“Because I want him to admit it, and then we can help him claim Rory.”
“I’m out.” Liv stands. “For the record, I’m with Tag, but I don’t want to hear his fucked-up plans to ‘claim Rory.’” She points a finger at Tag. “No fucked-up plans.”
“How quickly can you get me four saxophones?” Tag asks, and Liv is about to answer before she remembers he’s an idiot and just leaves instead.
“Look. Rory’s been through a lot, and he’s still healing,” I huff. “He doesn’t need me to steamroll him into a relationship.”
“He likes you.” I perk up despite myself, and Tag smiles. “And you like him.” I stand up again, and Tag raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just calling it like I see it.”
“Get out,” I order, and he heads toward the door. Maybe he’s right, though. Maybe I should step up my game and tell Rory he’s mine.
“One more thing.” Tag interrupts my thoughts. “Do you own a thong?”
