Page 65 of The Trade

I cross my arms, working to suppress the tremble in my voice as I shoot back, “What the hell, Theo?”

He tries to reach out, but the disappointment on my face must stop him. “We had a team meeting—it ran late. I accidentally left my phone at home.”

A long sigh escapes my lips. Shit. It’s not entirely his fault, and I know it. But a flicker of disappointment is hard to shake off. He could have planned better.

“You know, this is strike two with my brother, and you haven’t even met yet.”

“Strike two?”

I manage a small smile, attempting to lift the heavy mood. “The first strike was dating me.”

His relief is evident as he takes a step forward, his movements slow and cautious as if he’s scared I might bolt. Our fingers entwine, and his thumb rubs comforting circles on the back of my hand. “Jade .. . I feel like such a jackass. I’m sorry I’m late, and I’m sorry I left your brother waiting.”

My sigh echoes the soft night. “It’s a good thing Shan’s here to play buffer.”

He cocks a brow. “Shan’s here?”

“Yeah, Ace invited her. I’ll fill you in later.”

We enter the restaurant together, his grip on my hand a silent promise of reassurance. Yet, as we step toward the entryway, he stops in his tracks. “Wait, Jade,” he says, his voice a soft plea. When I turn to look at him, the intense sincerity in his gaze is enough to dampen my lingering frustration. “Will you forgive me?”

His question leaves me at a crossroads. I could choose to continue being frustrated, casting a further shadow on the night and hindering any hope of smoothing things over between Mica and West. Or I could opt for forgiveness and focus my energy on bridging the gap between them.

The answer bubbles up naturally. “I forgive you,” I say, matching his sincerity. “It was a mistake. Unfortunate timing, but we all make them.”

His sigh of relief wraps around me. He leans in, his lips meeting mine in a tender, apologetic caress. The kiss is brief, the kind of sweet that leaves your stomach fluttering in anticipation. “Now I need to go apologize to your brother.”

“Oh, are you planning to kiss him, too?”

“Only if you think it’ll help.”

19

WEST

Mica Jennings isone intimidating motherfucker.

He’s huge, he’s famous, and he’s scary as hell. And as Jade and I approach their table, our hands interlocked, his intense gaze drills into my forehead, leaving a mark that lingers.

“So, this is my—” Jade shifts uncomfortably on her heels, pulling her hand from mine. “This is West.”

“Mica,” her brother fires back, jaw clenched.

Summoning up all my courage, I clear my throat and pull out a chair for Jade, a silent gesture of support. She takes her seat, and I settle down beside her, working to exude a sense of calm despite my nervous energy. “Sorry to keep you all waiting.”

Mica scoffs dismissively, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah, it’s been what, an hour?”

“Yeah, I know.” I sigh, conceding my fault. “I’m sorry, our team meeting ran late tonight.”

“Right,” he grits out, his frustration barely contained. “And phones don’t work in Dayton locker rooms?”

“Ace,” Jade intervenes, palm settling on my knee.

“No, he’s right,” I say, my thumb stroking hers as I lean closer. “I forgot my phone, and I messed up. I knew this was important to Jade.”

Jade’s touch tightens, her fingers applying gentle pressure against the taut muscle in my leg. “It’s okay because you’re here now. Right, Mica?”

His guarded expression softens, broad chest deflating ever so slightly. “Right, sure. Let’s just order.”

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