Page 87 of Square Deal

The only thing keeping the nine of us from taking sides was the unspoken agreement that Chase and Bridget never talked about their obvious attraction to each other.

But if I could just lock those two in a room with a bed for twenty-four hours...

“Hey,” Bridget mumbled as she pretended to check the liquor stock on the shelf behind the bar. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a raised eyebrow. “What can I get y’all?”

“Can I, uh, get beer and a sweet tea?”

She popped the top off a bottle of beer and slid it to him before filling a glass with sweet tea. “I’ll put it on your tab,” she clipped, effectively dismissing him.

He grabbed his drinks and wandered back to the pool tables where Layla was waiting.

“Damn, Bee,” I said, “That was cold.”

“What?” she said innocently.

I shot her a pointed look. “You know what.”

The girls in the poker club—the sexy six, as we called ourselves—had a group text that was estrogen only. Luca, Steve, and—most importantly—Chase were not in it.

Our discussions as of late had circled around Chase’s infatuation with Layla. Since Mel worked with her at the hospital, she gave us the inside scoop.

Layla was a nurse in the emergency department. Born in Iran, raised in New Jersey. Fluent in three languages, whip-smart, and one of the best nurses Mel had ever seen. She was working in the ER while she studied to get all the certifications she needed to become a flight nurse. To add insult to injury, she was beautiful, had a great sense of humor, and never met a stranger.

There was literally no reason to dislike her. Well, except for the obvious.She wasn’t Bridget.

It didn’t take long for Chase to charm the scrub pants off of her. According to Mel, The night after the bar incident, Chase showed up to the emergency department to see Layla while he was on duty.

“It’s not serious,” I told Bridget. “He hasn’t mentioned bringing her to poker night.”

“Yet,” Bridget mumbled.

My phone buzzed again, and I tapped at the screen.

Isaac

I’m going to need specifics on the whole celibacy thing.

I couldn’t hide my smile.

Isaac

Is phone sex on the table? What about sexting?

“You’re smiling again,” Bridget said with a smirk of her own.

I dropped my phone in my lap and downed the rest of my margarita. “It’s nothing,” I said way too quickly.

Hell’s bells—Bridget was better at sniffing out the truth than a bloodhound.

“Chase said you’re seeing someone,” Bridget said matter-of-factly.

“And when did you get off your high horse and actually have a real conversation with Chase?” I countered.

Bridget stole my empty glass and didn’t even bother offering me another round. That’s how she got all the good gossip: withholding alcohol until we ‘fessed up. The woman played dirtier than a CIA interrogator.

“I didn’t,” she clipped. “I’ve been mighty comfortable wearing my petty pants lately. I heard you were seeing someone from Maddie, who heard it from Luca, who heard it from Chase on Thanksgiving when they hauled Isaac downstairs to get in his face about him getting handsy with you.”

“I’m—"I struggled for words.Oh, fuck it. I couldn’t lie to Bridget.“It’s new. Very, very new.”

---