The Game (Carolina Connections Book 4)

by Sylvie Stewart

  I scowled at her. “You owe me therapy bills for the next thirty years, I hope you know that.”

  She punched my arm. “How do you think I feel? That’ll teach you to walk into other people’s homes at least.”

  “Consider the lesson learned.”

  She laughed. I had to admit it was good to see her so happy and carefree. “Rest assured, Gav, Rocco will be home soon and you can distract yourself with talk of poop and lizards.”

  Thank God for small favors. I’d come over to see my nephew in a desperate attempt to distract myself from the unreturned texts to Emmy that were mocking me on my phone. As ever, Laney sensed the disturbance in the Force.

  “Hey, what’s the matter?” Her face had taken on that big sister look.

  “Nothing.” I attempted a scoff but it was half-hearted at best.

  “Jesus. It’s a girl, isn’t it?” She sat up in her seat, way, way too eager for my liking.

  I narrowed my eyes at her in answer and finished the last drag of my beer, causing her to smile like a fucking Cheshire cat.

  “Gavin has a girlfriend, Gavin has a girlfriend,” she chanted like the incredibly mature mother she is. That earned her another scowl and a lip curl to sweeten the pot. All she did was laugh until she was finally able to speak again. “I’m sorry,” she said, sounding the farthest thing from it. “This is just too good. Come on. Tell me all about it.” She settled back into a reclining position.

  The thought was really not very enticing, but I was pretty much at the end of my rope. I’d been seeking distraction from Rocco and, I’m a bit ashamed to admit, perhaps some advice, but my sister was here and offering. Desperate times and all that.

  “Fine. There’s this woman I’m interested in.” I stopped and retraced my steps. “No, that’s not it. I’m not just interested. She’s incredible and probably way out of my league but I don’t give a shit. There’s something between us, and I feel like she’s not even willing to give it a chance.”

  Laney looked a little offended on my behalf, which I greatly appreciated. Not to the point where I’d forgive her for the scene in the kitchen, but still. “How many times have you been out?”

  “That’s just it. We’ve really only been on one official date, but it was amazing. She was amazing. And I know she likes me…she just doesn’t seem willing to let herself admit it.”

  “Well, that’s just bizarre.” Laney gave me a speculative look. “You don’t think she’s in another relationship, do you?”

  I shook my head vehemently. “No. Absolutely not. She’s just…cautious.” My chin sank to my chest. “She’s a little bit older than me.”

  Laney sat upright in her chair again, the metal squeaking against the wood of the deck. “Oh my God! It’s that lawyer from the baby shower, isn’t it?!”

  “Jesus Christ. Do you women do nothing but gossip?!”

  She looked offended. An expression I was more than familiar with. “Please. We kick ass and take names. We only gossip in our spare time.” She settled back and put her feet up. “Besides, we uncover some great information through girl talk. In fact, all you’d have to do to figure out your lawyer is put her in a room with Fiona for about twenty minutes.”

  Hmm. That idea had some merit, I had to admit. Fiona could draw blood from a stone in the right context. I studied Laney as I considered this.

  “Invite her out in a group setting—less pressure. If you want her to be your girlfriend, she’s going to have to survive hanging out with us anyway. You may as well let her know what she’d be getting herself into.” She opened a bottle of water and took a sip.

  Again, she had a point. It also occurred to me that, apart from Brett, pretty much everyone I hung out with was older than me. Perhaps that would weigh in my favor if Emmy had reservations about my age.

  “You may be onto something here,” I told my sister. “I think I’ll text her and see if she and her friend can meet up with us this weekend. Are you guys free tomorrow night?”

  She shrugged and brushed her long dark hair behind her shoulder. “I can try to get a sitter, but even if I can’t, one of us can go out. Let me check with Fiona.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket.

  I used the opportunity to send a text of my own to Emmy.

  Gavin: Hi. I know you’re busy with work, but I’m going out with my sister and some friends tomorrow night. Do you and Ariana want to meet up with us?

  There. That sounded casual enough. And she could surely take a Saturday night off work. I’d been telling myself she wasn’t responding to my attempts at communication because she was swamped with work. I wasn’t ready to concede that she just didn’t want to see me again.

  My phone signaled with a return text almost immediately.

  Emmy: Sounds great. Ari has to work, though. Would you guys be up for karaoke?

  I was more than surprised by the quick response, and it triggered some very mixed feelings. Karaoke? Jesus.

  Gavin: Sure. Just name the place.

  Beggars can’t be choosers, I supposed.

  Emmy: Ari’s hosting karaoke downtown at Tate’s tomorrow night. I’ll be there around 8:30 to help her set up. See you there?

  Gavin: Absolutely. See you tomorrow.

  I had just scored myself a pseudo date. Excellent.

  “Well, Laney, I hope you’re up for karaoke because I just signed you on.”

  This caused her to laugh in a manner that sounded a bit too evil for my taste. “Wait till I tell Fiona.” She typed frantically into her phone and laughed some more at whatever Fiona’s response was. “This is going to be phenomenal.”

  I wasn’t so sure anymore.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Even Traitors Sing Karaoke

  EMERSON

  “Okay, I’m done. Where are we going?” I asked Ari and Jay as I walked back into my living room. I’d forced myself to put my work down for the next few hours and enjoy dinner with my brother and best friend.

  Jay was giving Ari a look I couldn’t discern and Ari appeared…kind of smug. Not necessarily unusual, unfortunately.

  “What’s going on?” I was almost afraid to ask.

  “That’s what I want to know,” Jay responded, still eyeing Ari.

  “Nothing’s going on,” she sniffed. “I’m starving. Let’s go to Rio Grande—I’m dying for some ACP and a margarita.” She stood from the couch and grabbed her purse from the coffee table. She also picked up my phone from its spot on the table and handed it to me.

  “Thanks,” I said, still a bit wary.

  “You might want to take a little peek at your phone, sis. I caught Ari red-handed.”

  She gasped in indignation and pretended to swat him. “Traitor!”

  “At least now you know where my loyalties lie,” he said in return, causing me to smile before I flipped through my phone to see what kind of trouble Ari had been causing. Nothing jumped out at me immediately.

  “Come on, you two. Let’s go,” Ari pulled me by the arm in the direction of the garage. “I was just fooling around. No harm done,” she stated.

  Figuring she’d probably changed my ringtone to something embarrassing, I lowered the volume all the way and shoved the phone in my purse on our way out the door.

  One margarita and a full belly later, I sat back in the booth at our favorite Mexican joint and sighed. “I’m going to regret that last basket of chips later, but I’m in heaven right now.”

  Jay continued to devour more chips and salsa and Ari signaled the waiter for another drink. I shook my head when he gestured to me. I was driving, and it was looking like Ari might be sleeping over.

  “Hey,” she said, turning to me in the booth. “Do you think you could help me set up karaoke tomorrow night? I’m working at Tate’s and I can never seem to get a close enough parking spot. An extra set of hands would be awesome.”

  I’d helped Ari a few times in the past when she was first starting out and didn’t have her routine down pat, but it had been quite a while. Guilt swell
ed when I thought about how long it had been since I’d seen her do her thing. I had to get better about balancing my career with my personal life or I was in danger of alienating everybody I loved.

  I smiled and bumped her with my shoulder. “I’d love to. Just don’t expect me to get up on stage with you.”

  She scoffed playfully. “That’ll be the day.”

  “I refuse to apologize for not voluntarily humiliating myself in public.”

  “She’s doing you a favor, Ari. I’ve heard her singing in the shower and it’s not safe,” Jay volunteered. I gestured across the table imploring her to listen to the voice of wisdom.

  “And I keep telling you that you don’t have to sing well to have fun at karaoke night. You’ve seen how awful some of those people are, but they’re having fun and keeping me in my job.”

  “Still not happening.” I took a sip of my water as the waiter set down Ari’s margarita. She smiled up at him in thanks and I swore he blushed. That made me laugh a little.

  “What?” she asked.

  I lifted my chin toward the retreating waiter. “The waiter. I think he’s got a crush.”

  Her gaze flew to him. “Seriously? He’s so young, he could be my child. Jay’s probably older than him.”

  “Okay. This is my cue to take a break.” Jay rose from his seat and brushed his hands on his jeans. “I’ll be back.” He walked away, presumably to visit the restroom.

  “I wasn’t suggesting you date him. I was just pointing out that he seemed to like you. Geez.” Although, at this point, I’d take anyone over Elliot.

  “Well, as soon as you accept another date from Mr. Baseball, I’ll consider dating the twelve-year-old waiter.” Damn. There was that smug look again.

  I’d been shamelessly avoiding Gavin’s texts for the last couple days. I mean, wasn’t it dating protocol to wait a few days before texting after the first date? I was just helping him follow the rules.

  Okay, that was a load of crap. The truth was, I’d enjoyed dinner with Gavin way more than I’d anticipated. Too much. And then that kiss. Ack! It was…there were no words. I felt goosebumps rise over my skin at the memory. This was not good. In fact, I feared if I engaged in texting with him, I’d agree to just about anything he suggested.

  “Well then, it’s a good thing I don’t want you to date the waiter.” I gave Ari my own smug smile as I reigned my wayward thoughts in.

  She pursed her lips into a pout worthy of a two-year-old. “Come on! You said yourself the date was perfect. I believe I even recall a sigh that went along with the story. He’s a hot young guy who’s into you. You don’t have to marry him. Just go out with him and have some fun. And, for God’s sake, get yourself laid, will you—you’re probably growing cobwebs down there.”

  I felt my lip curl in disgust. “Ew. Please, don’t concern yourself with my…down there. I still haven’t decided exactly what to do about Gavin. I haven’t even returned his texts, for goodness sake.” I face-palmed. “God, I’m a mess. This is yet another reason I shouldn’t date.”

  “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to ignore text messages? You’re always so goddamned polite, I’m shocked.” She took a healthy sip of her drink and smacked her lips.

  “I know. I know.”

  Jay chose that moment to return. “Is it safe now?”

  “Yes. Unfortunately,” said Ari, sending me a little glare before looking back at Jay. “Don’t you think it’s time Emerson got a boyfriend?”

  My brother narrowed his eyes at her. “You said it was safe!”

  I elbowed her. “Leave him alone. Jay, tell Ari about your games this week. It’s time for a change of subject.”

  When we got home, Ari and Jay decided to watch Game of Thrones while I ducked back into my bedroom to check emails and see if there was anything I needed to address before the morning. Craig had, predictably, sent out a group e-mail about some changes he’d made to improve the founder’s agreement draft. Changes he’d made, despite the fact that we’d both worked on the adjustments. I ground my molars together and tried to remind myself that karma was a b-i-t-c-h.

  I was getting ready to rejoin the bloodthirsty duo in my living room when I heard my phone rattle on the bedside table next to me. I realized I had never turned the volume back up and prayed I hadn’t missed anything important.

  But when I picked up my phone, all I saw was a single-line text from Ignore Until Next Week.

  Ignore Until Next Week: Can’t wait for tomorrow. Sweet dreams.

  Huh? What did that mean? I swiped to open the text exchange and felt all the blood drain from my face.

  “Ari!!!”

  “Oh, please. You’ve used up all your righteous indignation points for the day. Let. It. Go. I even have the song if you want it set to music.”

  I glared at Ari over the speaker we were scooting into place in a corner of Tate’s small stage the next night. The monkeys were back in my belly and I was filled with a crazy cocktail of emotions. The fact that Ari didn’t seem to be bothered by my ranting over her little texting stunt didn’t help either.

  I was just going to have to pull up my big-girl panties and be the mature adult I am. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to see Gavin. I’d had a great time with him on our date, and he was funny and sweet and smart. But I had to consider his feelings in all of this. He obviously liked me, which was really flattering in itself, but what if he started to like me?

  “Stop it.” Ari was looking at me critically. “You’re thinking too hard.”

  “Get out of my head.” How did she do that? Of course I was thinking too hard. It’s what I do.

  “He’s a twenty-four-year-old guy. He thinks you’re hot and wants to do you. It’s not rocket science and you’re not going to break his poor little baby heart because you have a job and responsibilities.” She adjusted the mic stand. “Have a drink, do some flirting, and get yourself some. End of story. I’ll even buy your first drink.” She smiled a bit too sweetly.

  “There is a special place in hell for people like you, Ari.”

  She stuck her tongue out at me in response.

  Tate’s was a bit of a dive, but the staff was friendly and the crowd enthusiastic. Ari used her natural charm to draw the patrons in and make them comfortable. She had her sign-up sheet half-filled by the time she started her first number. I made myself comfortable at the large high-top table we’d claimed up front and took a sip of my gin and tonic just as the first familiar strains of “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkle rang from the speakers. Ari winked at me and began singing while I planned her slow and painful death.

  Thankfully, Ari’s little ode to cougars everywhere had ended and a trio of thirty-something women were belting out Rihanna by the time I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I looked up to find Gavin, looking as hot as ever in a faded band t-shirt and well-worn jeans, his hair catching some of the colored lights from Ari’s set-up. I couldn’t stop the smile that formed on my lips, and he took it as invitation to bend down and plant a brief kiss on my mouth.

  “Hey, Emmy,” was all he said, but his eyes delivered a message something along the lines of “Can we get the hell out of here so I can ravish you?” I swallowed hard and let him get away with calling me Emmy, as usual. Heck, he could have called me Carl in that moment and I would have brushed it off.

  “Long time, no see,” said a bright female voice from behind me.

  I shook off the Gavin haze and swung my head around to find a face I remembered. Thankfully, I found my voice and it sounded normal. “Oh, hi. Fiona, right?” The very petite blond woman had been at the settlement meeting for that horrible pro bono case from last year. She’d been there to support her boyfriend, Mark, whom my jerk of a client was trying to sue. This all felt a bit bizarre.

  She smiled. “That’s right. Nice to see you again, Emerson.”

  I wrinkled my nose a bit. “These circumstances are a bit better than our last meeting.”

  She laughed amiably and pulled Mark Beckett
up to her side. He seemed to be completely unbothered by the situation and shook my hand warmly. Gavin then introduced me to his sister, Laney, and her husband, Nate. I hoped I could keep all the names straight. I spotted another person I recognized at the bar placing an order. It was Mark’s brother, Jake, who had been the one to call me about the Chris Hardacre case.

  Everyone quickly took seats and it didn’t escape my notice that Gavin was the first to claim a spot—the one right next to me. Ari waved to us from her place at the side of the stage where she was prepping the music for the next “performer,” and I used the opportunity to send her one last glare.

  “Laney!” Fiona shouted across the table to Gavin’s sister. “Are we doing Taylor Swift or Britney Spears?”

  “You can get your freak on all you want. I’m not getting anywhere near that stage until I’ve had at least two drinks. And I’m only doing back-up.” Laney pointed at her friend.

  Fiona pouted in return.

  “I think Ari’s already got about twenty people on her list. You may want to sign up now so you don’t miss out,” I offered.

  Fiona turned to me. “You want to do lead vocals with me?”

  I shook my head vehemently. “You do not want to hear me sing. But wait until you hear Ari. She’s amazing.”

  Ari called out the next name on the list and an overweight guy with flaming red hair and a full pint of beer mounted the stage. Everyone clapped encouragingly. “I want to dedicate this one to my girl, Tina! I love you, baby!” The music started and he began to sing the most awkward, off-key rendition of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” ever. I had to bite my lips to keep from bursting out laughing at the poor guy. I glanced over to Gavin and he looked like he’d been hit over the head with a two-by-four.

  “Just breathe,” I leaned over and told him. “It will be over soon.” He looked at me, eyes wide, clearly wondering if this was my idea of a perfect Saturday night—and, if so, how he could gently extract himself from the situation. The notion that he might want out of the evening after all the fretting I’d done actually caused the laughter to release. Ari was right. I needed to get over myself. I leaned into his arm and let myself laugh, which seemed to loosen him up a bit.