ChapterThirty

“Okay,long story, but in law school, I did a test,” George said. “When I used my real name Georgiana—or Georgie as my family calls me—only a few people wanted to work with me—either other women or fuckboys. But when I was George, I got the achievers. And that’s all I wanted, you know? I wanted to be first in our class, but of course, this guy got it.” She reached behind Lorelei to pat Slick’s shoulder.

“It could’ve gone either way,” he said.

“No.” George shook her head. “You got it because your GPA was higher. Anyhow, I work in a male-driven world, so while people might take a call from George Willet, I’d have to convince them Georgiana’s worth their time.” She lifted a napkin to her mouth. “I’m babbling. Don’t underestimate how big of a Mini Callow I was. By the way, did you come up with that nickname or was it the fans?”

“The fans.” This woman was nice. Friendly. There was no weird vibe. So, why was Lorelei spiraling? She forced herself to sit down, but her body moved like she’d worked out too long and too hard. Everything ached.

“You look beautiful,” Booker whispered, his hand on her knee.

“Wait, so how long have you two known each other?” One of his friends wagged a finger between George and Booker.

“I think this is our fourth lifetime together…is that right?” George asked, laughing.

“Since undergrad,” Slick said.

“Pretty ballsy of you two to leave a top firm like Elite,” one of his childhood friends said. She thought he might be the goalie of the team.

“She’s the one with the balls,” Slick said. “I wouldn’t have left an established agency if she hadn’t pushed me.” He gave Red Lips a warm smile. “Best decision I ever made.”

Okay, what the hell is happening here? He’d only ever talked about George as his partner.

Except yesterday, she’d overheard him say,I don’t know what I’d do without you. Lorelei cut a look to Red Lips.Holy shit.

Her heart pounded, and she could only take shallow breaths.

George smiled, looking a little embarrassed. “Well, trust me, he’s been there for me more times than I can count. Remember junior year when that rugby player cheated on me? I was a hot mess, and I’m telling you, Booker would not let me fail. He came to my dorm room every single day and shoved a protein bar in my hand, dragged me into the shower, and made me go to class.”

“You smelled pretty bad,” he said, and George tossed a roll at him.

Everyone laughed.

But Lorelei was picturing that tiny dorm room. The single bed. Had they slept together?

See, that was the thing about Slick. He put people into categories. She believed him when he said he’d never had a girlfriend, but George might’ve been his friend with benefits.

He certainly didn’t look at George the way he looked at her, and she hadn’t seen him touch George.

He can’t keep his hands off me.

But still, have they been hooking up since undergrad?

That would be close to fifteen years.Panic gripped her chest and squeezed.

You need to stop making things up.

Talk to him.

By the time she’d tuned back into the conversation, the partners were reminiscing.

“I don’t snore,” Slick said.

“Uh, excuse me? Let’s not forget how many times we shared a bed.” George spoke to the others at the table. “First year of law school, my apartment flooded—and I mean, I came home to find a giant hole in my ceiling and two inches of water in my carpet. I had to sleep in his room forsix months. Not only did he snore, but he sprawled. Total starfish, am I right?” she asked Lorelei.

What is happening right now?

Is she playing a game of Who Knows Slick Better?