Page 38 of All Tied Up
Me: Thank you, Mommy, for my bodyguard.
Her dots were almost immediate. Birch had probably already texted her, and she was on her phone.
Jellie: Anytime, baby girl.
Rolling my eyes, I started to respond when the doorbell rang. Closing the short distance, I unbolted it and opened it up to see my best friend’s older brother. I’d only seen him looking like this once, and that was for a cousin’s wedding I’d attended with Jellie as her plus-one several years ago. He cleaned up nicely.
“You didn’t think you were going to skip getting to be in mypresence the entire holiday season, did you?” he asked, holding out his arms, as if to display himself, before winking and walking inside. “Lucky for you, I’m a thoughtful kinda guy. I’d never make you suffer like that.”
I closed the door behind him, then turned to see him checking the place out. He’d been here before, but that was to help me move in. I’d done a lot since then.
“Where is Titan while you’re in the Big Apple for New Year’s?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
He swung his gaze back to mine. “At my parents’.”
“Melinda is letting him stay there without you?”
“He worked his charm and claimed her heart. I taught him how to reel in the ladies. She might not give him back. If there’s a custody case in court, I’ll need you as a witness.”
A real laugh bubbled out of me. The sound was almost foreign. I’d not laughed in a while. It was nice.
“As much as I love you and all, Melinda trumps you. I’d totally vouch for her.”
He rolled his eyes skyward and sighed. “It’s the hair, isn’t it? The ponytail is affecting my magnetism.”
I shrugged. “It may have a touch to do with it, but even still, Melinda wins.”
“Damn,” he muttered with a sigh. “In that case, you are no longer invited to our judicial battle.”
“Good.”
He grinned, then did a quick sweep of my outfit. “You look hot for someone who just survived pretend COVID.”
I paled slightly, then frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Dammit, my voice wavered. I hated lying, and being called out on it was bad.
He tilted his head to the side and cocked an eyebrow at me. “That’s what I thought. Whatever was wrong with you at Thanksgiving is still wrong now. Who is he? Where do I findhim? I’ll take Titan and go beat his ass.”
Stiffening, I straightened my shoulders and shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was sick. I’ve lost weight.”
His expression didn’t change. “Yeah, and heartbreak will do that to you. Or so I’ve heard. Never given anyone the power to break mine.” He took a step toward me and then held out his elbow. “Come on. Let’s get our asses to Midtown, and you can tell me all about it on the way.”
“There is nothing to tell,” I told him.
“Uh-huh,” he replied. “You keep on wasting your breath with the lies. I’ll have a name before the night is over.”
No, he wouldn’t. And not just because I was trying to cover up my COVID lie either. But because Birch had no idea that the ass he was threatening to beat was one born into a crime family. I had to convince him I was fine. He needed to let this theory, which was eerily accurate, go. For his own good.
Eighteen
Noa
The DJ currently doing a set had just put on “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, and Jellie squealed, grabbing Zeke’s hand to pull him out onto the floor to dance. The open bar was her best friend tonight. I’d lost count of the lemon drops she’d had. The noise and energy inside and outside on the terrace were doing a good job of distracting me.
“You wanna dance?” Birch asked as he held out the whiskey sour he’d gone to get at the bar for me.
“Nope,” I replied, taking it. “I’ve not had enough alcohol yet.”
He chuckled. “All right, but if you don’t drink faster, I’m going to give that hot little redhead who keeps eyeing me a chance.”
