Page 16 of If the Ring Fits

“Like he’s dishonest?” I ask, alarmed.

“No, just ruthless, at least in a business context,” Tristan clarifies. “I don’t know him personally.”

Hunter gasps loudly as she stares at her phone. “Is this him?” She turns the screen to face me.

Brown eyes, dark as aged leather, bore into me, making my insides squirm even from within a picture. “Yep.”

“Oh, wow,” Hunter exclaims, her nose almost glued to the screen. “And did you just forget to mention your future husband was going to be this hot?”

“Let me see.” Nina scrambles next to Hunter. “Holy shit! That man could make a nun reconsider with just one look!”

“Excuse you?” Tristan broods from his corner.

“Well, just look at him. Bet he could seduce even you.”

Tristan barely glances at the screen before grinning. “Nah, I’m more into blondes.”

Dylan bats his lashes at his best friend, making his voice shrill. “Oh, good to know.”

“Sorry, man.” He pulls Nina into his lap. “Talking about another Thompson.” He kisses Nina, and Dylan rolls his eyes, averting his gaze.

They really get into the kiss, and Dylan shoves his best friend on the shoulder. “Come on, man.”

Tristan reluctantly breaks the kiss and elbows Dylan good-naturedly. “Alright, alright, so what are we doing here? Are you still moving in with me?”

“Not until she’s okay.” Nina scowls.

“I am okay,” I lie. “If Dylan can pay two-thirds of the rent here and use my room as an office, I just have to move my stuff out and decide where to go.”

“There’s no hurry,” Dylan offers once again.

I give him a thankful smile. “I can’t make the next lease payment without going broke, so I’ll have to make up my mind before the end of the month.”

They all look at me and nod supportively, except for Nina.

“Honey, today has been a lot.” She meets my eyes with a steady, encouraging gaze. “You don’t have to decide anything right at this moment even if rent is due soon. I agree it’s not a forever solution, but we can cover you for a month if you need more time. We’re all here for you. Just let us, okay?”

I nod.

Hunter squeezes me into another hug. “Take all the time you need; we’ll support you whatever you decide. But don’t make any rash decisions because you’re in a panic.”

It means the world to know they have my back, but this is a decision I have to make alone as it will impact the rest of my life. I just hope that whatever path I choose, it’ll be the right one for me and my baby.

9

ADRIAN

Bass vibrates through my bones as I nurse a whiskey on the rocks, the clink of the ice cubes punctuating each beat dropped by the DJ. Limbs sway around me on the rooftop lounge, traders grinding the night away over another multi-million-dollar close. Their elation swirls like the technicolor lights reflecting off the glass and steel skyscrapers surrounding us, a buzzing energy I’m disconnected from.

I fish my phone from my pocket and check the Asian markets for the dozenth time, but the numbers on the screen blur. I don’t have the focus for this right now. Feeling the weight of the day, I down my drink and push through the sweaty throng of bodies to the exit.

“Calling it a night already, boss?” Tyler, one of the junior traders, shouts over the music with a dopey grin.

I force a tight smile. “Early start tomorrow. Don’t stay out too late, yeah?”

He throws me a sloppy salute before melting back into the crowd. I push forward, envying his carefree abandon. When was the last time I enjoyed myself at one of these outings?

The elevator ride down to the lobby is blessedly quiet, a reprieve from the relentless noise above. I scroll through my apps and tap a request for a generic black car. Sam’s day ended a while ago.

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