Page 45 of The Probability of Us

I don’t think I’m the only one that notices he doesn’t mention the town itself. He really does love Washington D.C.—that much is obvious.

“Did he tell you he got his ass kicked in basketball today?” I chime in and laugh when his eyes narrow at me.

“That was a foul and you know it.”

I shrug. “The refs didn’t call it.”

“We didn’t have any refs.” He crosses his arms, turning towards me.

“Peter didn’t call it a foul.”

“Peter was on your team. Of course he took the side that made him win.” He’s trying so hard, but the corners of his mouth are tugging up into a smile. “Jason would’ve been on my side.”

I bark out a laugh at that. “No one gives a shit what Jason says, and I’m pretty sure he wanted to see you lose more than he wanted to win so I doubt that too.”

His lips press together, and I turn back to the group with a smile. “Long story short, he lost.”

“Brave of you to try to fight her on this,” Sterling says with a laugh. “Have you forgotten that she could convince an innocent man he was guilty?”

That phrase got coined at Triniti when I started speaking up in meetings. People would always look over at me at the end of a presentation—if I was invited to it in the first place—because if I saw holes in an argument, I was going to bring them up.

“Have you forgotten that I’m a masochist?” Warren teases as he reaches over under the table and laces his fingers through mine. “You know I can’t resist a losing fight if it’s against her.”

I blush and lean into him, bumping my shoulder into his chest. He kisses my temple and squeezes my hand. There’s a collective groan from the rest of the table, but they all look happy for us too.

The newest wannabe DJ starts his set, and Ali stands when she realizes it’s worlds better than last week’s set. “Come on, we’re dancing tonight.”

Reluctantly, we all follow. Trent doesn’t have a choice but to dance with his girl—he’ll act like he doesn’t like it, but a smile never leaves his face, and his eyes never leave her. Sterling is missing his dance partner but has never had a problem taking on the dance floor alone. And Warren doesn’t let go of my hand, always up for an opportunity to hold me close.

As we’re dancing, my eyes keep drifting to the trivia rankings—to the sign with our team name on it. Something about it is pulling at my brain, something about it feels important. I think through the day, when we tied all through the preliminary round and then on the big final question, we got it right and won it a?—

Oh. My. God.

The final question. I stop dancing and just stare, hoping it’ll help me remember. I remember that it was about tax codes and conflict of interest, and parent companies.Fuck, what was the code number.

“Are you okay?” Warren asks, looking amused and I’m sure my face has twisted into one of my entertaining, concentration faces but I don’t care.

“I think I have an idea of how to keep both companies fully operational, legally,” I say.

He stops moving too. “Seriously? We’ve been looking all week and haven’t found anything.”

“I know,” I add. “I think we’ve been looking in the wrong places for the work around. How long did Peter give us to find something?”

“We’d have to present by Tuesday if you wanted to delay the layoffs,” he says.

Shit, that’s so little time to research, model, and pull together a presentation. And with being gone tomorrow, and the party Sunday . . .

“This is going to be tight,” I say.

“Let me know if there’s anything you need from me.”

“I’m starting to think you have a fetish for bossy women,” I tease.

“If I have a fetish for anything, it’s for you,” he mumbles against my lips before kissing me. “You have no idea how fucking sexy you are when you’re being a strong, powerful boss at work. It brings me to my knees every time—seeing your mind work as you shut down every counter proposal, the way the people around you look up to you like you’re a goddess. I don’t know how you haven’t taken over the world yet.”

I laugh. “Quit playing around.”

“I’m not,” he says, and he sounds serious. “Just take me as an example. You use that mind of yours to outwit me in most conversations, and I get turned on by your teasing comments. You boss me around and I can’t get enough of it, I live to hear those beautiful lips tell me what to do. I would kneel before you daily and worship you like the goddess you are. You’ve taken over my world.”

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