Page 17 of (Un)Planned

“I’m serious, Devyn. I’m just starting to stand on my own two feet.” I chewed on my lower lip until a thought popped into my head. “That’s it! My thirty days are almost up. He’s just trying to butter me up so I don’t flip when he lets me go.”

As she took another sip, Devyn studied me before a smirk formed on her lips. “You like him.”

“What?” I snapped, giggling at her insinuation. “Because I don’t want to get fired? No. No, no. That’s—no.”

“Way too many nos to be truthful.”

“Fucking lawyer logic,” I grumbled into my drink.

“Fine, youdon’thave feelings for him.” She rolled hereyes. “Even if you did, it's for the best that you don’t act on them. He’s your boss. That screams messy, even for you.”

“Ouch.” I smacked her thigh. “And that was never even an option. Sure, I enjoy looking at Theo, butdatehim? That would be adisasterwaiting to happen.” I started counting off my fingers. “He’s a jerk incapable of saying anything nice, he’s emotionally stunted, and he’s way older than me.”

“How much older?”

“Old enough,” I answered. “At least in his mid-thirties. And he’s got his life together, Dev. He would never be interested in someone like me.”

She scrunched her face. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” I sighed, needing to change the subject. “How’s your case going? Is there any more word about when they’re going to announce the junior partnership?”

Devyn lifted her drink, taking a large gulp. “I might kill my client, except she’s not even really my client. She’s his daughter. So now, I need to play nice with an eighteen-year-old who’s determined to throw away her entire trust fund. It’sexhausting.”

“Sounds like it. And this will help you get the promotion?”

“That’s the goal,” she sighed. “There are three other associates who could get the job, but none of them can match my billables or wins. The only advantage they have is their penises.”

I snorted, sending vodka through my nostrils. Devyn giggled, handing me a napkin. I was glad to know I wasn’t the only one feeling the drinks. But just as her laugh started to fade, a cheer broke out through the crowd, all eyes glued to the no-hitter on the TV screen above the bar. Devyn sneered as she spotted the familiar ashen hair of numberthirteen smirking on the pitcher’s mound as another player struck out.

I jabbed my elbow into her side. “Gray’s having a great season.”

“He better,” Devyn scoffed, taking another long sip of her drink. “They’re paying him enough.”

I arched my brow, debating how far to push Devyn on Gray. While we might have dated in high school, they were best friends for years before that. However, they had a falling out right before he left for college. No one knew what it was about, but Devyn rarely brought him up and snapped at anyone who tried to ask. Despite their rift, she never missed one of his games.

“You know you two live in the same city, right?”

“So?”

“Well….” I stirred my drink, weighing my words. “Maybe it’s time for you to talk–”

“Hard pass.”

“Devyn, I?—”

“So, are you sure there’s nothing going on between you and your boss?”

“Nice deflection.” I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Devyn,” I answered dryly. “I am sure that nothing is going on between Theo and me.”

“Good,” she answered, nodding toward the door. “Because I’m pretty sure Theo just walked in.”

My eyes widened as I watched Theo shuffle into the bar, his eyes almost immediately finding mine. The corner of his lip picked up, as if it was all a big game. For a moment, I thought he was here for me, but I quickly realized that was ridiculous. In what world would my boss track me down to some corporate bar in Midtown?

But I couldn’t lie—part of me wished he had.

As I tried to push that thought out of my head, Theo approached our table. Devyn smirked, turning to hide her smirk in her drink. “Okay, I’m starting to get the appeal. Pictures do not do him justice.”

“Shut up,” I hissed through a forced smile.

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