Page 61 of The Arrangement

Another shiver ran through Clark, the leather seats still cold, and I could only imagine it against her bare skin. As quickly and silently as I could, I slipped my leather jacket off to cover her bare legs. In my periphery, I saw her shocked expression as my body-warmed jacket settled over her. Still, she didn't rebuff my action but instead smiled softly before turning her attention to the conversation happening next to her as Chloe regaled everyone in the car about how she had slashed two of her ex's tires without getting caught.

Honestly, itwasimpressive.

"We're here! Everyone should have a room, and there’s a bar with food downstairs that’s twenty-four hours!" Sarah explained, her eyesdancing as she looked at no one except Fletcher. Damn, she had it bad. And from the way his eyes hadn't left hers for the entire car ride, the feeling was mutual.

The hotel was dramatic to say the least; it settled in high rise with a curved staircase that was reminiscent of old Hollywood, all marble and crown molding.

"I'm just staying for a bit; my apartment is just around the corner, and my cat hates it when I'm not home at a certain time," Chloe explained while Sarah checked in at the concierge desk.

"Tyler and I are staying for appetizers, then we have an early flight," Andrew agreed, holding the hand of the man who was definitely taller than me and could bench-press me without breaking a sweat. "We're celebrating our one year and going to New York for the week!"

The conversation was fine; I talked to Sarah's friends, who were by all accounts good people and just happy to celebrate their mutual friend's birthday. Fletcher's face was what signaled something was wrong as they walked over to us, Fletcher holding Sarah's overnight bag over his shoulder and refusing to look me in the eye.

Fuck.What now?

"Okay!" exclaimed Sarah with forced joviality, clapping her hands together. "Our table is ready downstairs, but there was a little mix-up with the rooms."

Georgia looked confused. "What kind of mix-up?"

Sarah looked at Fletcher for a moment before explaining. "So, my uncle did block rooms for us. However, there was a miscommunication on how many rooms were actually available. There’s a convention in town, and so many were already snatched up."

Clark raised her eyebrow at her friend as she urged her to continue. "Do I need to find a ride home? It's completely fine. I can grab a rideshare?—"

Grabbing Georgia’s hands in hers, Sarah shook her head. "Oh my god, of course not! I'm not letting you take a nearly one-hour ride home at 1:00 a.m. I have a room for you—" She shot a look at me, and it immediately seemed to lock into place. "—you just have to be coolwith rooming with Sebastian. If that's okay, of course. I wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable!"

Fletcher lowered his eyes at me, practically begging me to take the room so he could have some alone time with Sarah.

Jesus Christ.

Clark opened her mouth and then closed it, looking at me to gauge my reaction. Fletcher and I were locked in a battle of wills as he simultaneously threatened and begged me with his facial expression. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, hopefully nonchalantly, as I shrugged my shoulders.

"No big deal, Sarah, I can take the couch or something." I looked to Georgia for confirmation that it was okay with her and watched her eyes widen minutely as she just nodded before forcing a smile at Sarah.

Clark and I walked the three flights of stairs down to the intimately lit bar while the others chatted and laughed with each other. With each step I took I swore my blood pressure rose, with Clark so close to me doing something so…casual. It made my skin itch like it was too small for my body.

"You sure you're okay with the hotel arrangement?" I asked, ducking my head so I could whisper softly without the others picking it up. "I can sleep on the couch, obviously. If not, I can drive us both home after we eat."

Georgia shook her head, whispering back, "No, I can't leave; she's having a boozy brunch in the morning. Sarah has never had a birthday party, and it was hard enough getting her to agree to celebrate herself. I can't ditch her now." She finally looked at me as we made it to the speakeasy-inspired bar. "I'm fine with it; don't think too much about it."

Yeah, well, too late, Clark.

The food was good, and it helped clear the meager amount of alcohol from my system.

"So what do you do, Sebastian?" Chloe politely asked while grabbing another chip from the communal bowl. I felt more than sawClark's eyes on me as I responded, "I'm an account manager for my grandfather’s business.”

The woman nodded. "Do you like it?"

I paused slightly, chip midair while I considered her question. I just shrugged, "It's a job."

Fletcher decided to step in, arm still wrapped around Sarah's shoulders. "Don't let him fool you; if his grandfather ever actually let him out of the office, he would be toe to toe with the old man. He could sell water to the ocean."

I immediately turned the conversation to Sarah, "So, how did you and Fletcher meet?" I asked, all but gulping my water because my mouth was inexplicably dry.

Sarah's face broke out in a smile as she looked at the taller man who sat with his arm around her shoulders. "At the coffee shop I work at. He was there for a business meeting and ordered an Americano with six shots."

In response to my raised eyebrows, Fletcher threw his head back in a groan. "I swear I'm not trying to kill myself. I just hadn't slept the night before."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I, of course, being a responsible barista, asked if he needed to talk to someone. Just joking, of course, but then he said he would do a quad shot if it meant he could take me out to dinner." Hearts in her eyes, she nudged his ribs. "Of course, I couldn't be responsible for a heart attack on my watch, so, you know. We went to dinner—no quad shot needed."

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