Page 182 of Waiting Game

“That’s Matt Ellison,” Jarvis explains when he sees my confusion.

I grab my phone and shoot off:

Me: That looked nasty. You okay, babe?

“Matt who?”

“Do you know what a billet family is?”

“Yeah.”

His brow furrows. “How do you know that? It’s not exactly common knowledge.”

“I read,” is my mild retort/lie.

Gleefully, he asks, “You’ve been reading the sections of the paper I’ve been leaving you?”

He’s sweet enough that I dip down and press a kiss to his cheek. “You’ve been very patient with me.”

“Wooot, Jarvis looks like he’s about to get some action,” Jason, the asshole, hoots. “About damn time you put out for someone, Mia. Was starting to think you were into pussy, not dick.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What are you even doing in here, Jason? It’s game night for a sport you hate!”

Lighting a cigarette, he sniffs at me. “Since when is it a crime?—”

“That cigarette is a crime. Put it out.Now.”

He glowers at me but he accurately judges my annoyance levels because he grunts and plops it into a used bottle on his table.

“If you’re going to disturb the game for everyone,” I continue, “you can leave.”

He jumps to his feet, hands slamming on the table, making the bottles rattle at the force. “I used to be welcome here no matter what game was playing.”

“That Chuck let you back in after the stunts you pulled with the servers is yet another sign of his poor judgment and critical thinking skills.”

“What?” Jason snaps, mostly because he’s too dumb to understand what I said.

“The lady said that Chuck was a fool for letting you get away with the crap you have,” Jarvis mutters.

Jason barks out a laugh. “You’re one to talk. I’ve seen you sniffing around her. Why the fuck do you think she’d be into a weed like you when she could have me?”

Bewildered, I look between them both. “This is insane. Jason, I don’t want you. Jarvis…” I pause to collect my words as I have no desire to hurt his feelings. “I’m dating someone. You know that, right?”

His cheeks flush with heat. “Of course I do.”

I get the feeling he didn’t. And his disappointment is as clear as day.

Shit.

When I glare at Jason, his smug smile has me grinding my teeth together.

I’m not in a position where I can afford to turn business away, but that he was trying to hurt Jarvis,in front of my goddamn eyes,robs me of my reservations.

“Jason, you’re not welcome at Chuck’s anymore.”

He gawks at me, mouth open wide enough to catch flies. “You can’t be serious, Mia!”

“Sure I can. You’ve disrespected my staff for long enough. I won’t allow it anymore.”

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