Page 45 of The Proximity Effect

“It’s not broken.” Though the throbbing and swelling suggested it might be a bad sprain.

“You need to get it looked at. For liability purposes.” Archer’s professional mask was firmly back in place. “I’ll drive you to urgent care.”

“I need to elevate it and get ice on it. I can still move it and put my weight on it.” I tried not to wince as they settled me on the couch with my leg up. The lobby’s stone fireplace crackled nearby, its warmth at odds with the stabbing cold in my ankle.

“I’ll get the ice.” Tessa started to turn toward the restaurant, but I gently caught her wrist, noting how delicate it felt beneath my fingers.

I glanced at Archer, not even trying to hide my satisfaction as I watched his gaze zero in on where my fingers rested against her skin. The muscle in his jaw twitched. “You’re off tonight, right?”

Tessa nodded, her expression shifting from concern to curiosity at my sudden change in subject. “Yeah, why?”

“Well, I’m obviously not going to be much use around here and really don’t want to be alone.” I didn’t feel bad at all that I was playing it up since my ankle really did feel like it had gone ten rounds with a meat tenderizer. “I was wondering if you’d like to grab dinner with me? There’s this new Thai place in town I’ve been meaning to check out.”

Her cheeks bloomed with color as she glanced between me and Archer, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweater. “Oh! I... um...”

“Liam, this is highly inappropriate.” Archer crossed his arms over his chest, doing his best impression of a disappointed principal.

Tessa made a strangled noise in the back of her throat and narrowed her eyes at Archer. The flash of defiance in her expression made me want to grin. “Is there a rule against going on a date versusotheractivities?”

She’d handed me the perfect opportunity to push Archer’s buttons, and really, who was I to waste such a gift? The fact that I wanted to take Tessa to dinner was a bonus point in what was shaping up to be an entertaining game of chicken with my stoic friend. Plus, the way she’d emphasized “other activities” was wickedly clear as to what they’d been doing the night before.

“Dinner seems a lot more appropriate than clandestine office activities late at night.” I couldn’t stop my smirk if I’d tried, watching as Archer’s composed façade cracked slightly.

Tessa’s eyes went comically wide and her mouth dropped open, looking like someone who’d accidentally sent a spicy text to their grandmother. Fortunately for her, Evan was headingacross the lobby right for us, his boots squeaking against the polished floor.

“Holy crap, you really did wipe out! I heard you were being carried down the mountain like a princess.” Evan looked down at my foot and let out a whistle. “Though I’ve got to say, the balloon animal look is really working for you.”

“It isn’t that bad, and I wasn’t carried.” I shifted on the couch to find a more comfortable position. “There was a sled involved. Much more dignified.”

Evan’s gaze darted between the three of us, his expression shifting from amusement to a concerned look. “Did I interrupt something?”

“I asked Tessa out to dinner.”

“Perfect timing!” Evan’s face lit up like he’d found a prize in his cereal box. “We’re going to dinner already. We can make it a group thing.”

Tessa made a sound that was somewhere between a squeak and a cough.

Evan turned to Archer with a dangerous glint in his eye. “You should come too. If Tessa’s okay with all of us taking her out?”

I watched as Tessa’s face went from pink to scarlet. Her eyes darted between the three of us before finally settling on Archer.

“I... if you all want to...” She wet her lips nervously, her gaze still locked with Archer’s. “Then yes.”

The muscle in Archer’s jaw twitched again, but after what felt like an eternity, he gave a short nod. “Fine.”

Victory surged through me, though it was tempered by the memory of another woman who’d come between us. It had been like a grenade going off in our friendship, leaving nothing but scorched earth and wounded pride.

But this felt different. We were all aware of what was happening with Tessa, even if none of us really knew what to do about it. And Tessa herself was nothing like Evelyn. WhereEvelyn had been calculated and manipulative, trying to wiggle her way into our business plans, orchestrating each interaction like a chess master, Tessa was genuine and open, wearing her emotions like a colorful scarf.

“I should get that ice.” Tessa practically sprinted toward the restaurant, nearly colliding with a potted plant in her haste.

As soon as she was gone, Evan dropped into an armchair, the leather creaking under his weight. “So... this is happening?”

“Apparently.” Archer’s tone was resigned, like someone accepting an inevitable dental appointment.

Evan leaned forward, his demeanor turning serious in a way that always made me pay attention. “We’re all adults here. We can handle this like adults.”

I snorted. “Because we’ve been handling everything else so well?” The words came out more bitter than I’d intended, colored by memories of slammed doors and over a decade of silence.

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