Page 36 of The Consequence of You
If the guy is surprised to see me, his manners prevent him from commenting on it, and he returns my handshake firmly. Callie stares at where our hands meet before I drop his and take up my glass of wine.
“Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?”
“This is Nico Silva. Nico, this is Asher Pennington.”
Nico Silva. His name is unfamiliar, and I make a mental note to look into the guy as soon as I leave here.
“Good to meet you, Nico. Are you a friend of Calliope’s or…”
Nico’s eyes dart from mine to Callie’s, and back, almost like he’s trying to figure out how much I know about their relationship. The guy opens his mouth only to clamp it shut again. In the end, Callie answers for him.
“We used to date.”
White, hot jealousy courses through my veins. She used the worddatebut it’s clear from the way he’s looking at her that it was more than that. I couldn’t see it from across the room, but I see it now.
“Date or fuck?” I almost roar at the thought of his grubby hands on her perfect skin. Images of them together, like we were last night, flash through my mind, and I desperately need them to stop before I create a scandal bigger than anything I have created before. One, I fear, even my parents couldn’t cover up.
Callie tenses beside me but neither of them answers me. Inhaling hard, I tuck Callie in closer and look eyes with the man.
“It’s time for you to leave.”
Nico looks at my girl and addresses her.
“Is this your boyfriend?”
I feel her shake her head next to me and Nico looks relieved. He turns to me.
“Callie invited me here, and I would like to stay. I waited a long time for this conversation. Maybe it’s you who should leave.”
Callie shivers next to me, and I know without even having to ask her, she’s had enough of whatever conversation the two of them were having before I turned up.
“That’s not happening. Leave now or I’ll have you escorted from the premises.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Nico replies smugly with a misjudged confidence.
I scoff. This fucking guy.
He has chutzpah, I’ll give him that.
“Don’t underestimate me, Nico Silva.”
“Maybe it’s you who shouldn’t be underestimatingme, Lord Pennington.”
My life in the public eye might mean he has the advantage of knowing who I am, but it doesn’t worry me.
“Stop it!” Callie pushes away from me. “Both of you. Stop.” So, I do, because I’m fast discovering I’d do anything this woman asks me to.
She’s no longer tucked into my side, but she slips her delicate hand in mine. The motion is so unexpected my heartbeat jars.
I’m not the only person shocked by her actions, because Nico looks like someone has kicked his puppy. His face falls and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. The guy had his hands on my woman. He’s lucky I haven’t already broken every single one of his fingers.
He looks between us, and I know he can tell he’s lost whatever the hell this is. I smile. He ignores me and addresses Callie.
“I’m glad you reached out.” I bristle at the thought of her wanting to see him, even if she is choosing me over him right now. “Please reconsider this being goodbye. I heard what you said earlier, but we were too important for this to be it.”
Callie hesitates for a few seconds, but then she nods.
“I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll try.”
