don’t know why I felt the need to say that, but I did. I know people don’t get over crushes overnight, and Alesha definitely let me know she had one on me last week. I’ve made it clear that I’m only into Jeny, but I just had to say it again. She says nothing else as she packs up her things and leaves, letting me know I did the right thing.
12
J enysis
I decided not to change before going to dinner. Stella has purposely kept from me what she’s going to tell them about how we know each other. Thinking in the moment is another part of my training, and coupled with everything else I’m hiding tonight, it’s going to be a great test for me.
I walk into Bonefish Grill, and nearly stumble when I see Wayne at the table with Brayden, Darcy, Noah, Stella, Kace, Ryan, and Chloe. I didn’t know the Griffins were going to be here, but they’re not my problem. I can’t believe she invited Wayne. But then again, I can. The more important question is how she got permission for him to leave the house for dinner. I’m sure it was Society mojo, but I’ll ask later. Right now I have to be “Ann”.
I hold my head high as I walk over, thinking about how Nate and Jade can’t be here. He’s closer to Darcy than her real brother, Noah, but Jade can’t be around Wayne while she’s working on the other team. It sucks, but with the resolution I’m sure will come soon, we’ll all be able to hang out together again.
“There you are, Ann. I was worried you wouldn’t make it,” Stella says, getting to her feet to give me the requisite air kisses she’d give an acquaintance. Or a casual client. Point to me as I know what our story is.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
She makes the introductions, and I take the only empty seat at the table. Of course it’s next to Wayne. I open my menu, and do my best to ignore him. It’s pretty quiet as everyone decides what they want, giving me the chance to slow my breathing.
“I’ll have the Chilean Sea Bass with the lemon butter, a lobster tail, the truffle mac and cheese, and the au gratin potatoes. Oh, and a beer. The Omission Pale,” Wayne says. I knew that’s what he’d order, but I force myself not to smile in triumph.
“For you, Miss?”
“I’ll have the Fontina Pork Chop, with the garlic potatoes, and green beans. An Ocean Trust Martini to drink, but can you hold the jalapeno, please?”
“Sure.”
Nothing I ordered is anything I’ve had when I’ve come here before. I always get fish, but I’ve also always been tempted by the pork chops, so why not go for it tonight? And I’m normally a wine girl, but again, I’ve thought about getting the martini. Why not go for it, instead of playing it safe, like I usually do?
“So Stella tells us you’re a fashion buyer. That must be an awesome job,” Chloe says, once the waiter is on his way.
Ah, so I’m not a client after all. “I love clothes, so yes, it’s pretty awesome.”
“My wife loves clothes, too. I work to sustain her closets,” Ryan tells me with a laugh as she smacks his arm.
“You’re a good man then.”
“He’s the best,” Chloe agrees before leaning over to kiss him. They’re never shy about their PDA, and as usual, it’s more sigh inducing than anything else. All the Griffins are so freaking happy, and if they weren’t also great people, one could honestly hate them.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” I ask Wayne as Stella smirks.
“Stella tells me she’s stuck at work, but it’s weird for me not to have heard from her by now.”
He hasn’t heard from me, because as part of my going undercover, I had to leave my phone behind and take Ann’s. “Maybe she’s caught up in something.”
“Yeah. It’s weird, but I’ll see her when I get back home tonight.”
“Aren’t you on house arrest?” I blurt out, and they all look at me like I’ve lost my mind. I probably have, me and Ann both.
“Uh, sorry, but I don’t know you well enough to be talking about things like
12
J enysis
I decided not to change before going to dinner. Stella has purposely kept from me what she’s going to tell them about how we know each other. Thinking in the moment is another part of my training, and coupled with everything else I’m hiding tonight, it’s going to be a great test for me.
I walk into Bonefish Grill, and nearly stumble when I see Wayne at the table with Brayden, Darcy, Noah, Stella, Kace, Ryan, and Chloe. I didn’t know the Griffins were going to be here, but they’re not my problem. I can’t believe she invited Wayne. But then again, I can. The more important question is how she got permission for him to leave the house for dinner. I’m sure it was Society mojo, but I’ll ask later. Right now I have to be “Ann”.
I hold my head high as I walk over, thinking about how Nate and Jade can’t be here. He’s closer to Darcy than her real brother, Noah, but Jade can’t be around Wayne while she’s working on the other team. It sucks, but with the resolution I’m sure will come soon, we’ll all be able to hang out together again.
“There you are, Ann. I was worried you wouldn’t make it,” Stella says, getting to her feet to give me the requisite air kisses she’d give an acquaintance. Or a casual client. Point to me as I know what our story is.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
She makes the introductions, and I take the only empty seat at the table. Of course it’s next to Wayne. I open my menu, and do my best to ignore him. It’s pretty quiet as everyone decides what they want, giving me the chance to slow my breathing.
“I’ll have the Chilean Sea Bass with the lemon butter, a lobster tail, the truffle mac and cheese, and the au gratin potatoes. Oh, and a beer. The Omission Pale,” Wayne says. I knew that’s what he’d order, but I force myself not to smile in triumph.
“For you, Miss?”
“I’ll have the Fontina Pork Chop, with the garlic potatoes, and green beans. An Ocean Trust Martini to drink, but can you hold the jalapeno, please?”
“Sure.”
Nothing I ordered is anything I’ve had when I’ve come here before. I always get fish, but I’ve also always been tempted by the pork chops, so why not go for it tonight? And I’m normally a wine girl, but again, I’ve thought about getting the martini. Why not go for it, instead of playing it safe, like I usually do?
“So Stella tells us you’re a fashion buyer. That must be an awesome job,” Chloe says, once the waiter is on his way.
Ah, so I’m not a client after all. “I love clothes, so yes, it’s pretty awesome.”
“My wife loves clothes, too. I work to sustain her closets,” Ryan tells me with a laugh as she smacks his arm.
“You’re a good man then.”
“He’s the best,” Chloe agrees before leaning over to kiss him. They’re never shy about their PDA, and as usual, it’s more sigh inducing than anything else. All the Griffins are so freaking happy, and if they weren’t also great people, one could honestly hate them.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” I ask Wayne as Stella smirks.
“Stella tells me she’s stuck at work, but it’s weird for me not to have heard from her by now.”
He hasn’t heard from me, because as part of my going undercover, I had to leave my phone behind and take Ann’s. “Maybe she’s caught up in something.”
“Yeah. It’s weird, but I’ll see her when I get back home tonight.”
“Aren’t you on house arrest?” I blurt out, and they all look at me like I’ve lost my mind. I probably have, me and Ann both.
“Uh, sorry, but I don’t know you well enough to be talking about things like
Similar Books
