Page 51 of Restrained

Vivienne eyes me with a slight smile, but she doesn’t say a word.

Asher doesn't seem to pick up on anything out of the ordinary as he turns and carries Baz out of the room. I walk to Viv, keeping my voice low. “Are you okay?”

She nods her head, but I can tell she’s unsure. “Baz is happy.”

“Has he been an ass?”

She shakes her head, a tiny smile on her lips. “He hasn’t said anything to me.”

I wrap an arm around her, and she lays her head on my shoulder. “So, yes.”

I hear her quiet laugh before she changes the subject. “So, working huh?” She lifts her head and grins.

“Come on. Let’s get dinner,” I laugh as we walk into the kitchen together where I greet everyone else.

Dinner is weirdly quiet. I expected at least one outburst from my brother, but he mostly just keeps his attention to Baz, who couldn’t be happier having Asher by his side at dinner. After we finish eating, Penelope, Viv, and I head out to the backyard while everyone else stays inside to play with Baz.

We’re all lying in our own lounge chairs, wine in our hands, and looking up at the stars in the dark sky. I’m in the middle, when Penelope turns to look at Viv over me. “Baz was sure happy tonight.”

I can feel Vivienne’s pain and internal struggle from beside her, but she just smiles. “Yeah, he loves Asher so much.”

Penelope nods. “The feeling is definitely mutual.”

Vivienne continues looking up at the sky, her voice soft. “I told Asher he can have the whole day tomorrow with Baz.”

No matter how she feels about my brother or the shit they put each other through, she’ll always put her son first. “They’ll both like that.” I smile, looking up at the sky with her.

“So, does that mean you’re spending the day with Sawyer then? Having some much-needed orgasms?”

Of course, Penelope asks that question. I roll my eyes, smiling at my best friend’s question, and again, but I feel tension coming from Viv. “I’m not sure what I'm going to do while they have a boys’ day.”

“Please tell me, that you’ve let that boy into your pants.” I turn to Penelope, shaking my head, and she laughs. “What? I love Asher as much as anybody, but he had a chance. We all can’t be sexual camels like you, my dear friend.”

Vivienne laughs at that, and I turn to look at her. “Last time I defend you.”

She laughs again, and so do I as I look back up at the sky. “I actually agree with Penelope though. I think Sawyer really cares about you.”

The snort from Viv is not what I was expecting. “He likes the chase. The thrill.”

I turn to look at her now. “You really believe that?”

She shrugs her small shoulders, turning her head to look at me. “Yes because he’s like me.”

“I used to think Linc was like that too.” We both turn to Penelope as her head tilts toward us. “But it was bullshit. It was love, and I’m glad I finally let him catch me.”

I smile happily at her, so happy they’re settled. “Me. Too.” I turn back to Viv. “And Sawyer is a player and an asshole, but he cares.”

“We’re friends,” she confirms what Sawyer told me.

“Friends who bang.” Penelope grins.

Vivienne is clearly tired of talking about this and shifts the conversation to me. “So how is work going, Lola?”

She smirks into her wineglass, and I casually flip her off so Penelope can’t see it. Vivienne laughs, but Penelope picks up on her precarious tone. “Did something happen with Hayden?”

I was going to tell her anyway. Might as well. “We had sex.”

“What?” Penelope jumps to a fully sitting position in her lounge chair to turn to look at me. “You had sex with a client? You? Lola fucking Sterling?”

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