Page 35 of Game Change

They all stare at each other.

“Um,” Makayla says. She stares at her husband, and he shrugs. “Nothing, really. It’s, uh—"

“My job,” Colin says. Brody slaps his palm to his forehead, and Malcolm smirks.

“Oh?” I ask, and Colin nods. “And how did you get that job?” I sneer.

“Well, my undergraduate and graduate degrees, along with my years of experience as an architect in a top firm in San Diego.That’show.”

“You’re leaving out the most important reason, ColinKincaid,” I hiss.

“Not to mention my professionalism, which is something you lack. I bet you think your bad attitude makes up for it.” He inches closer. “It doesn’t.”

I put my drink down and step closer to him. “I dare you to do something about my bad attitude and lack of professionalism.”

“Uh, we’re here to celebrate Brynne,” Raven says. She steps between us, and Colin takes a step back. “Because she’s fabulous.” She raises her glass, and Amira clinks it.

“Yeah, she is,” Makayla says, and I wish she’d stop talking because the last thing I want is to like her.

“Killah told us about what happened,” Brody says.

“Yeah?” I say. I take another big sip of my second drink. “What exactly did Killah tell you?” The group goes quiet again. Even Makayla’s smile slips.

“He’s not a bad guy,” Brody says. “And he didn’t plan this. He would never do anything like that.”

“Hmm,” I say as I pretend to think about it. I make the mistake of looking at him. He has the nerve to look bored with this conversation. “Right,” I scoff. “I mean, even Hannibal Lecter was charming at some point.”

Amira lets out a nervous giggle, and Raven cackles.

“Well, I did eat you,” Colin says, and I choke on my drink. Makayla laughs, and even Malcolm tries to hide his smile.

“Did you? I have no memory of that. It must not have been that good.” I give him the side-eye and sip my drink.

“Burn,” Amira says.

“Really?” Malcolm asks. “That’s not what we heard.” All the guys look away, and I feel a blush of embarrassment spread over my entire body.

“You know what would be nice?” I ask no one in particular. “It would be nice if you would go eat somewhere else.”

“Why don’tyougo eat somewhere else?” Colin says.

“Because we were here first,” I whisper-shout so as not to make a scene in the bar.

“Well, we have no issues with you guys being here. If you have a problem with us,youleave.” Colin has the nerve to scoff and gesture at me.

“The only person I have a problem with is the one who stole—"

“Why don’t we all sit together so we can clear this up?” Makayla suggests. She looks from me and my friends to Colin. Amira and Raven nod in agreement, but when I widen my eyes at them, they stop and look away.

“You want me to sit with him?” I point in Colin’s direction without bothering to look at him. “To celebrate withhim? Celebrate the job he stole from me?” I ask her, wide-eyed.

“Well—" Makayla begins.

“I didn’t steal a fucking thing,” Colin says. Unlike me, he doesn’t bother to lower his voice, and several patrons glare at us.

I set my drink down and take a few steps closer to him. He straightens to his full height, which is several inches taller than me.

“Who do you think you’re yelling at?”

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