“What about Alec? And that bitch about to steal your man?”
“I got this.”
I don’t. I think I’ve lost my mind, to be honest, and who knows what other covert shenanigans I’ll get up to tonight. Each attempt is only making me more and more desperate to keep those two apart. My feet are itching to run around the corner to the front of the club so that I can find them and follow them somewhere else.
She lets out a long sigh, cringing at an enthusiastic drinker leaning against the building, close to passing out or throwing up. “Promise you’ll keep fighting for your moment?” she asks. “Don’t let her take him from you.”
I nod defiantly, though I’m wondering in the back of my mind if he’s really mine at all. Then a wave of confidence washes the momentary self-doubt away as I remember our last night together, the one I’ve tried to relive every free minute I get. Alec’s mine. I’m his. He just doesn’t know it yet.
I get Liz into a cab and send her to the train station. Then I call Liz’s phone to let Landon know she’s on her way home and he might want to be there. When I click off, I notice a guy smoking an e-cigarette, leaning against the limousine, staring right at me. He seems to be the only sober person in the vicinity, with the exception of the cabdrivers. He doesn’t fit the bill for a chauffeur, but he’s leaning against the limo like he’s waiting to drive someone around. He gives me the classic guy head bob, and I get ready to put as much distance as possible between us.
“Hey, hold up,” he says, clicking off his cigarette and tucking it into his pocket.
“Sorry, I’m taken,” I throw over my shoulder, not slowing my pace. I’m not in the mood to talk to another somebody I don’t know.
“Yeah, I heard.” He pushes off from the limo. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. You want to sabotage this date he’s on, yeah? And it looks like you just lost your co-conspirator.”
I stop, raising a skeptical eyebrow at him. “Who the hell are you?”
He smirks, sticking a hand out. “Sorry, manners aren’t a specialty of mine. My name’s Jackson.”
“Theresa.” I shake his hand. “But you still haven’t really answered my question.”
“I’m Jackson, Rian’s personal chauffeur.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he tilts his head toward the sweet ride behind him. “And I’m absolutely in love with her. Feel like hiring a replacement co-saboteur?”