Page 56 of Nothing to Beat

“Which is funny, ‘cause you couldn’t stand the guy when you met,” Tripp added.“Must’ve been sexual tension.”

“Uh, no, not sexual tension, he was rude.”Roxie didn’t equivocate.“He came storming in there like—no way would I put up with that.Everyone else might let him get away with it.Not me.I did nothing wrong and he had no right to talk to me like he did.”

“You gave it back though.”

“I stood my ground, still do if the occasion calls for it.”

“Ah, come on, admit it, you just do it to turn him on.”

“Hey…” Roxie muttered, eyes slinking to their corners.“It’s not the kinkiest thing he’s asked me to do.”

And as the day flashed past outside, she saw the woman in a different light.“You suit him.Zairn.He’s always been looking for something,” she said.“I didn’t know it, but… you suit him.”

“He was looking for something; I didn’t know I was looking.”On an exhale, Roxie conceded.“If it wasn’t for him getting it, us, so early, we wouldn’t have made it at all.”

She clarified her earlier question.“Are you nervous about getting married?”

“Married?”Roxie was certain.“Never think about it, to be honest.Z and I do events together all the time.This is no different, not really.It means a lot to Jane, I’m excited to see her happy.”

“But the dress, the crowd—”

“There’s a prize at the end,” Roxie said.“That’s more than we usually get.We’ve never cared too much about the wedding part, we care about the marriage.We’re good at that; we like being good at things.Let’s us be smug.”

“It’ll be a sight to see,” Tripp said.“Big fanfare.Pulling out all the stops.Real theater.”

And he was a guy with options.

“Who are you taking as your date, Tripp?”she asked him.“Did you get a plus-twelve?A plus-twenty?”

“Can’t play favorites.I’m going stag, but I can get you in,” Tripp teased, making her smile.“I know a guy.”

“Yeah, your brother.”Roxie seemed concerned.“You’re not coming with Breck?Asshole.We’ll uninvite him and you can take his place, Sequoia.There it’s done.If he shows up, he’ll be tossed out on his ass.”

“Be warned.”Tripp feigned solemnity.“You’ll have to go through security to get in there, Seq.”

“Don’t worry about that.Wait until you see Roux’s dress.Every man in the building will be distracted.”Roxie’s lips circled.“Whoa, mama, there’s a definite chance of fireworks.”

“She didn’t get to make fireworks at her own wedding, so she’s commandeering yours?”Tripp did his insight into women thing again.“Nice.”

“Hey, she’s welcome to it.Only spotlight I need is my Casanova’s.Of course…” One of Roxie’s shoulders rose an inch, “Jane may not say the same thing.”

The last thing she wanted to do was cause upset.“Breck and I haven’t talked about your wedding.Don’t uninvite him.”

Tripp had the answer.“Guarantee he assumes you’re going with him.”

She shrugged.“Probably.”

“He wouldn’t take anyone else.”

No, he wouldn’t.Until meeting Roxie, and having this whole experience, she hadn’t thought about the hyped wedding, or if she wanted to go.Tripp was right though, she and Breck did automatically assume the other would be their plus-one, if required.Damn, she’d have to get a dress in case he presented the prospect last minute.

“Okay, he can come, but as your plus-one.”Satisfied, Roxie’s lips curled.“Problem solved.”

“New York will be empty that weekend,” Tripp added.“Think there’ll be looting?”

“I already said details are Jane’s purview.But don’t worry, I’m sure your harem will be suitably distraught.”

“No different from any other day they’re without me.”What a dork.“I’m surprised everyone will fit in LA.Are we renting out soundstages?Offering complimentary silk sleeping bags and scented eye masks?”

---