Page 135 of Caged

“Better. Doc Greenfield said I’m healing nicely,” I said. “I hope to return to work sooner rather than later.” There was only so much sitting around I could do without going crazy.

“Good, we’ve missed you around the office,” Jamie said.

“Yeah, it’s been too quiet without you two biting each other’s heads off,” Jack added.

“We weren’t that bad,” Jay defended us.

I forced a smile. “Yes we were, or have you forgotten I punched you?”

“That’s all on you.” Jay rubbed his jaw. “And how could I forget? You pack a hell of a punch.” He grinned before adding, “For a girl.”

“For a girl?” I asked, with half-hearted indignation.

“Dude, have you learned nothing?” Jack asked.

Jay crossed his arms and held his ground. The sparkle in his eye told me he was having fun messing with everyone.

“I bet he deserved it,” Meg took my side.

“Did I?” He asked, winking to let me know it was okay to joke about it.

I didn’t answer, but Jack and Jamie said, “Probably,” before breaking out in laughter.

Maybe someday I’d laugh at the memory too, but not today. The embarrassment was still too strong.

“Which of those lingering bruises is from Maxwell?” Jack asked, pointing at Jay’s face. The swelling was gone, but he still had lingering blue and green patches courtesy of Roman’s goons. So did I.

“Hard to tell.” He laughed.

After the laughter died down, Jack asked, “What was it you called them, Meg?”

“Enemies to lovers,” she answered. “Speaking of, you owe me twenty bucks.” She held out her hand. “Each.”

“What?” Jay and I asked together.

“Meg bet us you two would get together sooner rather than later,” Jamie said with a shrug before pulling out his wallet. Jack made no move to pay her.

“Pay up, Charming,” Meg said, using her pet name for her husband.

Emily was reserved but couldn’t help laughing as Meg demanded money.

“Princess, we share a bank account,” he reminded her with a one-armed hug. “Take whatever you want.” The love between them was palpable when he kissed her temple.

“Meg, what made you think we’d end up as lovers?” Jay asked. We weren’t quite lovers.Yet. We were in love buthadn’t done more than kiss. I couldn’t wait until I was healed enough to spend a night living out my fantasies with Jaden’s rock hard, tattooed covered body.

“The way you always looked at each other when you thought no one could see you.” She grinned and shrugged like it was a given. “It was only a matter of time.”

Jay and I made eye contact, staring deep into each other’s eyes before smiling.

No matter how much I wanted to be mad at Meg for suggesting it, she was right—Jay and I were a perfect example of enemies to lovers.

The guys offered to refill our drinks, beer for them and water for the rest of us, giving me an opportunity to talk to Emily and get to know her better.Not only am I an introvert, I built walls to keep everyone out.When I apologized for not being friendlier in the past, she confessed she thought I didn’t like her, adding to my guilt at shutting them all out.

“I’m sorry if I gave you that impression,” I said.

Jamie put his arm around Emily. “Told you it wasn’t personal. Maxwell just keeps to herself.”

“You’ll have to come out of your shell now that you’re part of the family,” Jack said.

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