Page 178 of The Influencer

I huff. “They don’t need to know everything.”

“But if they follow him on Instagram?—”

“Oh, I made Jade block them both before I even told them his name.”

“What do they think he does for a living?” Race asks.

“Underwear model.”

Race snorts a laugh. “Perfect.”

Vince trudges up the three steps into the room and comes over to the bar. “One red wine, one tequila shot, a tonic with lemon, and a kiss.”

Race leans over the bar and kisses Vince with a loud smack.

“Also, dinner’s ready.”

My stomach growls. I’ve been saving my appetite for this all day. I pour the wine while Race fills a shot glass with tequila. Vince downs the tequila right away and then grabs the tonic with lemon I’m sure is for Adam. “Who else needs a drink?” I call out.

Sawyer and Jade stroll in while Vince opens the door to the terrace and yells, “Dinner, you sluts!”

I catch a growl just before Vince closes the door again.

“What’re you having, sweet thing?” I ask Jade as he approaches with Belinda sleeping in his arms.

“Dirty martini. And make it fucking filthy.”

“You got it. Sawyer?”

“Whatever Adam’s having.”

Race mixes up another tonic with lemon and hands it over while I shake Jade’s martini. He smiles at me, and I scowl. “What?”

“You never told me you were a bartender.”

“For like a year in college. It wasn’t exactly formative. Also, it was at Chili’s so not very glamorous either.”

He laughs, and I love to hear it. He has the most adorable laugh. The way it looks, the way it sounds. The way he lights up a goddamn room. Today he’s in a modest gray Henley and faded jeans with holes in the knees. He said he didn’t want anything to draw attention from his new ring, but he’s sexy in everything he wears, so my eyes and mind tend to wander, regardless.

I’m sporting a classic blue flannel with the collar open enough to show off the necklace Jade gave me last Christmas to replace what he called “the cross of irony.” This one is a perfectly round jade pendant trimmed in gold. I nearly smothered him with my “appreciation”when I opened the box. I’ve never taken it off.

Gideon makes it to the bar before Jax does with wet hair, pink cheeks, and bright red lips. “Tequila. With the fizzy water and lime—you know?”

“Ranch water?” Race asks.

“That’s the one.” He turns to Jade and flicks his new nose ring. “Cute.”

“Thanks.”

I watch them carefully, my martini shakes getting slightly more vigorous and pointed.

“You look really good, you know?” Gideon says. “Happy.”

“I am,” Jade says. “Thank you.”

“I never noticed before that you weren’t.”

“I was fine,” Jade says somewhat defensively.

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