Page 69 of The Proximity Effect

His smirk was audible in his voice. “No promises.” The engine roared to life beneath us, the vibrations rumbling through my entire body. “Hold on tight.”

A few minutes later, we walked into the resort. The very last person I wanted to see as soon as we entered the lobby was Declan. What made it infinitely worse was that Liam and Evan were both holding my hands, and Declan zeroed right in on that.

I watched in dismay as Declan stood up, smoothing his pressed slacks. Even now, he looked like he’d stepped out of a Brooks Brothers catalog.

“Tessa, can we talk? Privately?” His eyes darted meaningfully to where Liam and Evan’s hands were still linked with mine.

I suppressed a groan. “Two minutes. I have lunch service and dinner prep to handle.”

Liam squeezed my hand before letting go, while Archer shot Declan a look that could have melted steel. I followed my ex-fiancé to the restaurant’s bar, settling onto a stool and crossing my arms.

“What were you thinking, showing up here?” I asked before he could start whatever speech he’d probably prepared.

“I miss you.” He reached for my hand, but I pulled it back. “This whole thing has been a mistake. I’ve been thinking?—”

“That’s your problem, Declan. You’re always thinking, always planning, always trying to control everything.” I shook my head. “And for what? So you can have the perfect life that fits into your perfect vision?”

“I want what’s best for you.” His brow furrowed in a way that meant he was about to launch into one of his logical arguments.

“Well, guess what? I’m moving here. I’m running this restaurant, and someday I’ll open my own place.” I watched his face contort in horror, and it was honestly a little satisfying.

“You can’t be serious.” He looked like I’d told him I was joining the circus. “Why would you want to be a chef in a restaurant? The hours are terrible, the work is exhausting, and the profit margins?—”

I cut him off, jabbing a finger in his direction. “This right here is exactly why we would have never worked long-term. You only see money and a misguided sense of prestige. I see passion, creativity, and joy.”

His chin lifted, ridged with restraint. “And what about those three men you walked in with? Is that part of your new creative lifestyle?”

“That’s absolutely none of your business.” I straightened my spine, gathering every ounce of dignity I could muster.

“Really? Because I overheard that Archer guy having quite the explicit phone conversation with someone named Peggy last night, and I have to say?—”

I burst out laughing. The guys had told me in between rounds the night before about Archer’s fake phone sex conversation to drive Declan away from the restaurant.

“What’s so amusing?” He looked genuinely confused, which only made me laugh harder.

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t stop giggling as I slid off the barstool. “But my two minutes are up, and I have a kitchen to run.” I started walking away and then turned back. “Oh, and Declan? You should really look into getting pegged. It might loosen you up a bit.”

I left him sitting there, looking completely flabbergasted, and headed toward the kitchen. My cheeks hurt from grinning,but I couldn’t help it. The Tessa who had been with Declan would have agonized over this confrontation for weeks. This new Tessa? She had three gorgeous men, a kitchen to run, and absolutely zero regrets about any of it.

Well, maybe one small regret that I hadn’t been there to see Archer’s performance with “Peggy” firsthand.

Chapter 24

Dice After Dark

Evan

Iwatched with barely contained glee as everyone settled around the coffee table, various levels of suspicion on their faces. Archer, ever the lawyer, examined my colored die like it might be evidence in a murder trial. Liam lounged back against the couch, trying to look disinterested, but I caught the curl of a smile. And Tessa... well, she eyed the bottle of tequila like it might bite her.

“I can’t believe you created your own drinking game.” Tessa accepted the regular dice I handed her, shaking her head. “Actually, no, I completely believe it. This tracks perfectly with everything I know about you.”

I plopped down next to her, deliberately letting my thigh press against hers. “Hey, some people paint, and some people write poetry. I create innovative ways to get my friends drunk and embarrassed. Besides, D.A.D. is way better than Never Have I Ever.”

Archer snorted, unimpressed. “That’s a low bar, and can we please not call it D.A.D.? Dice After Dark is just fine.”

We all rolled, and when Tessa’s came up snake eyes, I couldn’t hold back a cackle. “Oh, this is perfect. The universe loves me.”

“It hates me.” She reached for my special die, tracing the slightly uneven Sharpie scribbles before letting it roll across the table.

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