Page 24 of Love is a Game
“You know, Andrew, I’m pretty jealous,” Julie said, sitting up in her seat.
“Jealous of me?” he asked. “Why?”
“I think you get to spend more time with Sadie than any of us,” she told him. “This Cypress stuff keeps her so busy.”
“Only until six o’clock, right, Sadie?” he asked. She made a face at him and he grinned triumphantly.
“Well, yeah,” Julie went on, “but since she spends her afternoons at the library, she has to spend the rest of her night catching up on work. We’re lucky she even made it here tonight.”
“Sounds like you’re neglecting your family, Shady,” he chided. “Maybe you should take a break from this proposal of yours.”
“Or maybe I should spend more time at the library so I finish sooner,” Sadie countered. “I know how much you’re enjoying my company.”
He scoffed and shook his head. “You know what they say,” he warned. “All work and no play makes Sadie even more irritating. Or something like that.”
“I like working.”
“Yeah but do you have to work all the time?” Julie asked quietly, no longer smiling.
Andrew watched Julie for a moment, his brow furrowed, before turning his gaze to Sadie. “Sounds like you’re a bit of a workaholic,” he said accusingly.
She felt herself growing defensive. “Julie’s just kidding,” she told him. “We’ve been spending time together.”
“Only sort of kidding,” Julie mumbled.
Sadie looked down at the napkin she hadn’t realized she was wringing in her hands. Dinner with Julie and Tyson was supposed to be a way to unwind after her long day. Being put on the spot in front of Andrew was not the way she had seen her evening going.
Andrew glanced between them. He looked like he was going to say something, but the waitress returned then with a bag of food. “Andrew?” she asked.
“Yeah, that’s me,” he said, taking it from her and standing. “I’d better go. I don’t want to interfere with family time, especially if it’s so scarce. Good to see you guys.”
“Good to see you too,” Julie said, her face brightening.
“You coming to poker night?” Tyson asked.
Andrew nodded. His cocky grin returned, but Sadie could see that it didn’t reach his eyes. “Wouldn’t miss it. Have a good night.”
She watched him go and then turned on Julie. “What was that all about?” she asked, irritated. “Did you have to throw me under the bus in front of him?”
“I was just making conversation.” Julie shrugged and took a long sip from her straw.
“Was it just me,” Tyson asked, putting his arm around Julie’s shoulders, “or was there some serious chemistry between those two?”
“We’re not supposed to talk about that,” Julie whispered back to him.
“Talk about what? The fact that the dreamy lawyer is perfect for your sister?”
Sadie snorted at the description. “Former lawyer,” she reminded him.
“So you do agree that he’s dreamy?” Tyson winked, and she threw her napkin at him.
“I’ll tell you what,” she said, holding her hands up in defeat. “If the two of you can go the rest of dinner without mentioning you-know-who, I will go kayaking with you after.”
“Yay!” Julie cheered, clasping her hands in excitement.
“Does that mean we can talk about him once we’re out on the water?” Tyson asked playfully.
Sadie leaned forward and gave him a look that would have been more menacing if she could control her smile. “Bring him up, then, and I’ll knock you off your kayak.”