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Brandon shuffles the deck with ease, the cards sliding between his fingers. Once dealt, we all study our hands.

Brandon turns to Sebastian as he tosses a couple of chips into the pot. “So, Lil’s moving in with your sister soon, right?”

Elijah’s hand pauses mid-deal, his shoulders tightening. Sebastian notices it, too, his eyes flicking over to assess Elijah’s reaction.

Sebastian matches Brandon’s bet. “Lil can do whatever she wants.”

He’s still not over her, just as she’s not over him.

“You’ll probably run into her at many events and parties,” I say.

Sebastian shrugs. “Like I said, she can do what she wants. She’s a grown woman.”

Elijah looks at Sebastian, tapping his cards on the table. “What’s the story there?”

“Bash and Lil dated back in college, but they broke up. Really messy. Isn’t that right?” Brandon says.

“You could say that,” Sebastian says.

“And what about Mary and Gemma? How do they fit in?” Elijah asks.

“Mary and Gemma have been best friends since childhood.” Sebastian tosses a chip into the pot. “The three of them got close in college. Gemma’s the link between them.”

I picture Mary’s smile from watching her in the cafe.

“They’re quite the trio.” Elijah takes a peek at his cards. “The ex, best friends with the sister. Interesting.”

“It’s long over,” Sebastian says.

“And what about you, Con?” Elijah asks.

“What about me?”

“Any history with the lovely Miss Wempton?”

“No. No history.” I keep my face blank even as my heart races.

“Other than ogling her every chance he got back at college.” Brandon reveals a strong hand, but I beat it with a straight flush.

I scowl at him, and he grins, his hands up in mock surrender. Taking out my phone, I check the cameras. She’s still at the office. No new messages.

She works too hard trying to prove herself. It’s one of her coping mechanisms. Part of me wants to go to her right now, to lead her away from that desk and tell her she’s done enough for the day. But I know I gave up that right the moment I told her to get out of my car.

“The annual charity ball is coming up soon.” Sebastian lays down his cards and takes a sip from his beer. “Anyone planning on going?”

Elijah shuffles and deals new cards. “Miss Wempton was quite insistent that I make an appearance. Guess I’ll take Esther to make my dad happy. You guys?”

“Miss Wempton is going to be devastated. She probably wanted you to date Mary,” Brandon says.

Mary’s mother asked Elijah, but not me.

“I’ll take her instead of Esther.” Elijah’s mouth quirks up briefly.

“Don’t you dare.” My jaw clenches at the thought. Imagining Mary with someone else her family approves of cuts me deeper than I care to admit. “If she goes with anyone, it will be me.”

“I knew it!” Brandon crows triumphantly. “Pay up, gentlemen.”

Elijah and Sebastian groan good-naturedly, handing over crumpled bills to a grinning Brandon. These fuckers.

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