Page 453 of A Matter of Time

“His ex-partner’s wife.”

I tipped my head. “She’s cute. She seems to like Chaz.”

She pinched me, hard.

“Owww.” I chuckled, turning to her as she leaned into me, her arm around my shoulders.

“She more than likes him, she always has.”

I turned to look at her face. “What do you wanna do?”

“Kick the crap outta her, but Chaz would be mad.”

We were silent for a few minutes, all three of us.

“You know, Jory,” Ersi said distractedly. “Sam told us that you were worried we didn’t like you.”

I turned and looked at her.

“It’s not true.” She sighed. “We both like you a lot. You act like us…you act married…and we both think that’s wonderful. I just wanted to tell you that. I know a couple of the girls think it’s just a phase, Sam being with you and all, but me and Steph, we know it’s the real deal. We can tell the difference.”

I stared into her eyes, and she smiled. When I looked at Stephanie, she had the same soft expression in her eyes. They both actually liked me—how had I missed that? My gaze returned to Ersi.

“Just so you know, okay? So we’re all clear,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She sighed, looking back at her man. “God, I hate these things.”

But they’d never had me along before.

“Move,” I ordered her, standing up and shedding my trench coat, suit jacket, and tie.

I unbuttoned my dress shirt and took it off, as well as the cotton T-shirt underneath.

“Not that I don’t appreciate the floor show,” Ersi teased me, arching one eyebrow, “but, honey, what⁠—”

“Just”—I gestured for the iridescent red satin shirt she was wearing to cover the plunging V neckline of her dress—“gimme that.”

“Jory, I’ll look like a whore without the shirt on.”

“You’ll look hot,” Stephanie assured her. “You’ve got perfect boobs, girl—show ’em off.”

Ersi blushed and took the shirt off, giving it to me. It fit tight, but that was okay. It was supposed to be open low, to show off my skin.

“Okay, girls, let’s hit the floor.”

Stephanie gasped, digging in her heels when I tried to pull her along with Ersi and me.

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t look as good as you guys. I’m so fat.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is ‘voluptuous,’” I assured her. “And, baby, that ass needs to be shakin’.”

She bit her lip.

“Sweetheart.” I arched a brow for her. “It’s disco. We’ll look ridiculous together.”

She laughed, put her drink down, and squeezed my hand tight. They were both trusting me, and I felt like I could fly.