Page 45 of In Good Company

Margo shakes her head, the smile on her face conveying that it’s no big deal. Doesn’t she see how stressed I am?

“Beck was also my boss and my ex’s brother, so trust me when I say I’m not judging what I just saw. And I won’t tell a soul.”

I gasp. “Really?”

Margo nods. “Yes. I’m shocked you didn’t know. It was all over the internet when we first got together. You could say we didn’t have the most conventional start to our relationship.”

“I had no idea,” I answer honestly. Unless Charlotte tells me the gossip or I overhear it at Pembroke, I don’t really know the backstories of many of the club members.

The only person I knew some things about was Cal, and that’s because of my…occasional innocent Google search.

“So Beck was really your boss and ex-boyfriend’s brother? Tell me more so I don’t feel totally guilty that I was seconds away from letting mine have his way with me.”

Margo giggles. The sound makes me relax. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t need to feel as guilty as I do. I’m at least assured enough that she won’t tell a soul about what she found Cal and me doing. “He was. My ex was horrible though, so it really shouldn’t matter who Beck was. And my guess is your ex is anex for a reason, so you shouldn’t be sparing him a second thought either.”

I shrug. “Mine got with my best friend as soon as we broke up. He’d been in love with her the whole time.”

Margo gasps. “Shut the fuck up.”

Charlotte screams behind me, catching my attention for a moment. I look over my shoulder to find Jude’s hands on the small of her waist as he tries to place her on a hot pink floaty that hadn’t been out before.

I pull my attention from my friend and look back at Margo. I don’t have to look around to know that Cal is back outside. I can feel his gaze on me, but I don’t look in his direction.

Instead, I angle my body toward Margo. “I wish I were kidding, but I’m not. The thing about it is I learned I really didn’t love him. Not like I thought I did. I did love her though, so that part hurt.”

Margo nods in understanding. She folds her arms across her chest and listens to me intently. “I get that. A best friend breakup can be harder than a boyfriend one.”

“Exactly.”

“So, if your ex was terrible—and so was your friend—why do you seem so nervous about kissing Cal?”

I let out a long breath, really thinking over her question. It isn’t a bad one. She kind of has a point in asking it. I fight the urge to look over my shoulder again, knowing the man who’s the topic of our conversation is still watching me closely. “Because I don’t want it to seem that the only reason I kissed him was because of what Oliver did. I didn’t do it as some kind of revenge, and I feel like if anyone found out that it happened, that’s exactly what they’ll think it was.”

“As long as you know that’s not the reason, why does it matter what anyone else thinks?”

I chew on my lip for a moment. It shouldn’t matter whatanyone else thinks because no one else will know it happened. I can’t kiss Cal again. I mean, I really shouldn’t. Except, I want to.

When it comes to him, I feel like I’m losing all sense of reason.

“It matters what people think when they find out he’s also my boss. Making out with him would be a HR violation if we were in a typical office space.”

Margo tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Your situation is different. As long as he isn’t using his power over you, I don’t think you should feel guilty about kissing him. It can work out, and no one will care, I promise. Beck and I are proof of that. We’re married with the most beautiful daughter. It can work out. Don’t overthink it.”

I laugh. “Well, I can promise you I’m not overthinking it that much. I go back to Virginia at the end of this summer and will probably never see Cal again. I just have to decide if we should kiss again.” I shake my head before running my hands through my hair. “I’m probably getting ahead of myself. He’s Callahan Hastings. He probably won’t want to kiss me again, so I shouldn’t even be worrying about it.”

Margo clicks her tongue before bumping her knee against mine. “Listen, I’m saying this as a friend. We’re friends, right?”

I nod, smiling at the thought. Today was the first day we really got to spend together, but I really like her. I want to call her a friend. “Of course,” I answer.

“Then as your friend, I’m telling you I know an obsessed man when I see one. And that man right there…” She cocks her head in his direction, trying to be discreet, but it still makes me blush because it’s a little obvious. “That man is obsessed with you. He wants to kiss you again. I’d bet all my money on it.”

I risk a glance over my shoulder, finding Cal staring at the two of us. My cheeks heat at the look on his face. Ryker talksanimatedly next to him, but he doesn’t seem to pay any attention to his friend. He’s focused on me and only me.

“There’s no way he’s obsessed with me,” I offer, quickly turning around so he can’t read my lips.

Margo rolls her eyes with a smile. “Enjoy the summer with him, and don’t get in your head.”

Her words run through my head even after she gets up to FaceTime with her daughter and their nanny. I know I should listen to her and get out of my head about what happened with Cal.

---