Page 14 of A Little Jaded
His amusement falls, and he looks behind me, taking in the family room and kitchen. “Any chance he’s here to pick a fight?”
“I’d say the odds aren’t small,” I muse.
A low curse slips past his lips as Griffin scans the party again. “Great.” Looking back at me, he adds, “Maybe stay here for a few.”
“Probably a good idea,” I reply. “Where’s the bathroom?”
He hooks his thumb toward the closed door on my left, then heads to the main area, leaving me alone. It’s probably for the best. If Drake caught me talking to Griff, it would give him a reason to go off. But maybe it’s the point? There’s no way he didn’t know who this house belongs to. Add to the fact he brought his hockey friends with him, and the pieces are finally clicking into place.
Here, I thought I’d gotten off scot-free from the arena altercation. Joke’s on me, I guess.
My hand trembles as I knock on the bathroom door, anxious for a hiding place. Instead, I’m greeted with, “Onesec.” Resting my back against the wall, I pull my phone out and bring up Everett’s contact information as I wait. I can’t decide if I should message him and apologize for coming to his house when I had no idea he lived here or if Griffin’s taking care of all of it and I need to hide away for the foreseeable future.
Or, you know, indefinitely.
What was Drake thinking? Is it because he found out Everett infringed on his territory, so he feels like he has a right to infringe on Everett’s?
What the hell am I thinking? This isn’tWest Side Story. There aren’t territories at all.
Are there?
As the door opens, another familiar face appears, and his brows tug. “Raine?”
I tilt my head up and nearly choke on my breath. “Reeves?”
Seriously? Can I not catch a break?
“Give us a minute,” a low voice growls behind me. I peek over my shoulder and find an indecipherable Everett behind me. He looks good tonight. Dark hair pushed away from his face. Same chiseled jaw I remember. Black T-shirt. Low slung jeans. Full lips. Blue eyes demanding my full attention. They’re so…astute? So bright, yet dark at the same time. It’s confusing, and makes him even harder to read than the last time we spoke, which I’m pretty sure is just my luck, considering the circumstances.
Ignoring me, Reeves addresses his friend. “Thought you said she didn’t want to hire you anymore.”
“Apparently, I got under her boyfriend’s skin without the contract,” Everett answers dryly.
“Is he here?” Reeves asks over the top of my head like I’m not sandwiched between them. It kind of makes me want to throat punch the guy.
Giving Reeves a slow nod, Everett squeezes the back of his neck. “And he brought four buddies.”
“Damn.” With a low whistle, Reeves looks at me again. “He must be really possessive of you.”
“Maybe this isn’t about me,” I lie.
“And maybe you’re full of shit.” Reeves starts to slip past me but stops at the last second. “Take it from someone who’s been down this road a time or two. Playing by his rules won’t get you any farther in life, and it won’t prevent the fallout, either.”
“Who says there’s a fallout?” I challenge.
“You came to me for a reason, Raine,” he reminds me.
He’s right. I did. But admitting it out loud feels like I’m caving. Like I’m giving in. Like my life really is spinning out of control and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I lift my chin higher, holding his knowing stare. “Maybe I was curious.”
“Nah,” Reeves tsks. “Fear led you to me. And fear is holding you back from trusting my buddy enough to let him help you.”
“I…” I fumble for a response, but he walks away before I can muster any actual words. Shaking my head, I step into the bathroom, anxious for an escape, when the heat of a body follows and the click of the lock rings throughout the small space.
Twisting around, I scowl at a surprisingly stoic Everett “What are you doing?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“He told me he wanted me to come to a party,” I explain. “He never said it was yours.”