Page 8 of Cocky Prince
“The circumstances were crappy,” I say.
Jaeger isn’t a bad guy, and I don’t blame him for what happened. He played a part in everything that went down, but his part was minor, all things considered.
He shakes his head. “I had no idea you were back in town.”
“Blue hired me.”
“Oh Jesus,” Cali says, and throws up her hands, just as another couple enters behind us.
Mira, Tyler, and I step out of the way to let the new couple in.
“Why ‘oh Jesus’?” the tall brunette with beautiful greenish eyes who just entered asks. “Hi.” She smiles and holds out her hand to me. “I’m Gen. This is Lewis.” She gestures to the dark-haired guy behind her, who rivals Jaeger in height.
I shake her hand. “We were discussing my job at Blue Casino.”
“Ohhh. I’m sorry?”
Gen has more reason than anyone to be sympathetic to a woman who works at Blue. Soon after I hired Mira, she explained how her friend Gen had been assaulted and nearly raped by a manager. “I heard about your experience working at the casino. I’m really sorry. I’m trying to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”
“Not sure how safe you’ll be working at Blue, but it sounds like it will be good for the employees that you’re there,” she says. “That place could use a few more people with a conscience.”
Nessa sees me shift my purse and reaches for it. “I’ll put this in one of the bedrooms.” She disappears down the hall. When she returns, she heads into the kitchen toward a giant blender, with what I’m assuming contains the infamous margarita mix. Which I wouldn’t mind a glass of right about now.
Running into Jaeger has always been a possibility. I just didn’t think it would happen among my new friends. I wasn’t expecting to confront my past tonight.
“Wait,” Mira says suddenly, as thought she’s finally put something together. “Most of us went to high school together. How come I never knew you then?”
Mira and I have gotten along since I hired her, but it’s only been recently that we’ve grown close. I’ve never told her about my sordid past in Lake Tahoe—have yet to mention it to any of my new friends.
After a rapid-fire exchange of ages, years attended at the local high school, and friendship affiliations, we determine why I wouldn’t have known them. Mira was a couple of years younger than me, and Tyler and Zach spent most of their time with their sports teams. Not to mention, I only attended my first two years of high school in Lake Tahoe.
“We were ships passing in the night,” Mira says, and grins.
I laugh. “Something like that.”
We move into the dining area and Cali places some kind of contraption around Gen’s neck. She reaches for two more, and places them on Nessa and Mira as well. She turns to me.
“Mira mentioned her boss was coming,” she says, and shakes another neck thingy. “I made sure to bring extras.” Her voice is low, and a bit devilish.
The mischievous glint in Cali’s eyes, coupled with Jaeger’s head shake, has me worried. But I appreciate Cali making me feel welcome. Despite my past with her boyfriend, she isn’t holding it against me.
Playing along, I feign wariness and glance at Mira while Cali slides the stretchy neck gear over my head. She pours margarita mix into a giant wineglass, then slides the glass inside the neck thing that magically holds it without toppling my drink.
She plops a fat straw in the glass. “There, now you look like us.”
I peer at Mira and Nessa, who are holding back smiles, wearing the same ridiculous neck contraption I am. “I know I said I didn’t want moderation tonight, but I’d like to be standing by the end of the evening.”
I glance around the room. Jaeger is silently laughing, and Tyler and Zach are leaning against the counter with their arms crossed, smiles playing on their faces. Lewis leans over and takes a sip of Gen’s margarita—right above her breasts. He winks, and she smacks him on the arm.
I take a long drag from my straw. “Okay, I like it. I mean, I look ridiculous, but come on, this thing is handy.”
Cali claps excitedly. “I knew you would be game! I got these babies online. Just let me know, and I’ll order you one.”
I hold up my hand. “No, no—I’m good.”
Cali pouts, and Jaeger puts his long, muscular arm around her shoulders. “Come on, babe. This is her first time. Let her get used to the gang before you ply her with drink paraphernalia.” He turns to me, shaking his head. “Still can’t believe we’re running into each other like this.”
I smile ruefully. “Small world.”
