Page 54 of Rush of Jealousy

“Has Teddy Graham contacted you again? And more importantly, have you responded?”

“Yes and no. Graham has been unusually quiet over the past day. He’s only texted a dozen times. Maybe this is him trying to give me space.”

Claire throws her head back so fast in laughter that she falls off the bed. “Shit.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“Everything,” she says with a giggle, climbing back up onto the bed. She looks so beautifully disheveled. “But that man isn’t giving up. He’s probably just waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.”

“Hard to pounce when he’s away on business.”

“Surprised he didn’t kidnap you and take you with him.”

“I am too.”

I look at my phone and see the messages highlighting my opening screen. For the past couple of mornings, Graham has been greeting me with a sweet message, followed by a series of frustrated messages, and then ends the day with a simple, “Dream easy, sweetheart.” He is being tame, despite being ignored by me. Maybe he’s learning that pushing me only causes me to push back.

We are more alike than we are different when it comes to wanting control, being stubborn, and—dare I say it—battling jealousy. Even I know myself well enough to understand that if Graham were to move on without me right now that I would want to claw the bitch apart. Yet, until I am privy to just how interconnected Sophia is with his life, it’s hard to jump in heart first.

Oh, and the fact that he’s a liar.

Claire’s phone rings, causing me to take a sip of my drink. Ethan probably didn’t realize how amazing he had it until—

“She’s having a threesome.” My eyes dart to Claire’s as she waves me off with her hand. “She’s enjoying it—even though you didn’t ask. Figure you should know.” She bites her bottom lip and spins out of reach as I lunge for her phone. “The men are smooth, wickedly dangerous in large quantities, and easy to swallow.”

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. I can hear Graham’s boisterous voice boom from the other end of the phone. He called Claire? Was harassing me via texting not enough? The man seriously has boundary issues.

“With guys named Jose and Jack,” she says proudly, giving me a smirk.

Please, Claire, don’t poke the bear.

“Oh, who cares about last names. The three of them are just on a first-name basis right now. Which is weird that they can even talk with their mouths so full. But since you will just look them up anyway, Cuervo and Daniels. Buh-byes now.”

“I can’t believe you did that. What did he want?”

She sighs and shakes her head as if I’m a child. “You, Angie. The man only wants you.”

I toss my head back onto the pillow that rests against the headboard. “I want him too.”

“Oh no.” She waves her finger at me. “No you don’t.”

I feel the sting on my thigh. “Ouch, you hit me.”

“Needed to snap some sense into you. The only guys we need right now are the ones who never disappoint and are consistent.” Tipping up her glass, she downs the amber liquid, completely bypassing our drinking game.

“I’m going to make dinner before things turn south fast.”

Getting up from the mattress, I make my way down the stairs. And—

“Ahhh!” My throat is raw from yelling, as our eyes connect.

“Angie,” Claire says in a rush, as she races down the stairs. “What’s wrong?”

Taking the next step, my foot slips, causing me to fall to my ass onto the floor. Fear paralyzes me as I stare up into the eyes of Parker.

“Miss McFee, are you alright?”

“You broke into my house,” I bellow, trying to stand up as Claire helps but doesn’t really help—her drunkenness now showing.

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