Lifting her hand, she ruffles her hair. It’s a nervous move, something I noticed on the first day I met her.
“Sure you have. Tell me, why aren’t you currently being bossed around by your little pet?”
I know exactly what—or whom—she’s talking about, but that’s not how I play it.
“I’m sorry?” I ask, sitting forward, my brows pinching together.
She studies me for a beat, obviously trying to figure out if I’m playing her or not.
“I’m surprised she let you out of her sight. She sure is… possessive.”
I have no idea what Sloane has been spouting off at school, but I can imagine.
Sloane might act dumb at times, but just like everyone else, she’s seen the tension between the two of us. And meddling should be Sloane’s middle name.
“Well,” I say, my voice empty, not giving away just how much my body reacts to her, “I guess she doesn’t want to lose me, or what I can provide her with.”
Forcing my muscles to move, I uncurl my fists and crack my knuckles.
Her eyes follow my movements, watching my fingers with hungry eyes.
She thinks she plays it cool around me. That I can’t see exactly what she wants, what she needs. But I can read her like a fucking open book.
A fact it seems my father has figured out too.
If only she was so open with her secrets. It might make this whole job a hell of a lot easier.
Because that’s all she is.
A job.
A game.
A pawn.
“Lucky girl,” she sasses with a dramatic eye-roll. “But I guess some just have to settle.”
I don’t get to come up with a cutting response because Seb, Stella and Calli appear over her shoulder.
“Ah, good. You’re not close enough to slit his throat yet,” Seb deadpans.
Emmie mutters something under her breath which I swear is something about never getting that close to me.
Clearly, she’s forgotten last night already.
“So are we going or what?”
Emmie looks over at Stella when she steps into Seb’s side.
She looks hot in her little black dress, and when Seb turns to look at her, a very familiar look fills his eyes.
“Yes, before they start going at it,” I say, knowing exactly what Seb’s feeling right now. But unlike him, I’m not about three seconds from acting on it.
Pushing from the sofa, I turn my back on the four of them, allowing me to rearrange myself without witnesses as I head toward the door.
“You’re so fucking transparent, bro,” Seb shouts behind me.
Flipping him off, I storm through the door.