Page 49 of Chips & Checks
“I’m not,” I insist, forcing a casual smile I don’t feel. “Chad’s just being Chad. It’s fine.”
Bowen’s eyes flash with irritation. “No, it’s not fine. He doesn’t get to talk to you like that. He doesn’t get to make you feel uncomfortable at a work function.”
My throat tightens. “It’s not a big deal. Let’s just drop it, okay?”
He clearly doesn’t want to let it go, but he finally relents, releasing a frustrated breath. “Fine. But it is a big deal, Vi. You deserve better.”
I quickly redirect, blurting out the first thing that comes to mind to change the subject. “You bought me a stool.”
He blinks at me, momentarily confused. Leaning closer so he can hear me over Viktor loudly insisting that his paladin build is superior, Bowen says, “Hm?”
“The new stool. In the therapy room. The cause of that fight right there.” I point back to Sergio and Dante, whose faces are now bright red.
Bowen shakes his head. “I feel like that’s more of a family matter.”
Another, even more confusing thought occurs to me. “It’s a gift!”
“I wouldn’t call a fight a gift…”
“Not the fight.” I lay my hand on Bowen’s arm. “The stool. The stool is clearly a gift. But you don’t do gifts, according to the list you sent me.”
Bowen sits back in his chair. “What? No. I would argue that due to the utilitarian nature of the stool, it doesn’t qualify as a gift.”
I yank my hand away. “What? You have a bachelor’s in criminal justice? Did you go to law school?”
“No. I’m just saying if my father ever bought my mother a vacuum cleaner for a holiday, that wouldn’t be a gift. Couples don’t go around buying stools for each other for Valentine’s Day. A stool is very unromantic. So… not a gift. And no rules broken.”
I’m not buying it. I poke his shoulder with one finger and narrow my eyes at him. “You’re walking a thin line there, Bowen. You know what you are? You’re a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”
He opens his mouth before frowning and closing it again. After another moment’s consideration, he shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a thing.”
“I’m making it a thing.”
“If I’m anything, I’m more of a Doberman. I don’t ever set out to hurt anyone; I’m just selfish.”
“Joke’s on you,” I tell him. “I grew up with a Doberman, and he was the most protective and loyal dog I’ve ever met. Gentle, too. You know they’re a popular breed for service animals, right?”
Camden looks over then and narrows his eyes. I swear I hear him mumble “fake fuckboy” before he takes a sip of his beer and looks away.
Bowen’s brewing counterargument is cut off when Sergio steps up to the podium at the front of the room. “May I have your attention, please?”
Most of the people in the room keep talking.
Sergio taps his finger against the mic, causing it to crackle. “Excuse me? I said—hey, wait, what are you doing? That’s mine!”
Two men in matching tuxes have lifted the podium from its place. Sergio chases after them as they carry it over to where Dante is sitting. He gives his goons an approving nod as he rises and adjusts the mic to his height. Sergio pinches the bridge of his nose and mutters something under his breath.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please,” Dante intones. A hush instantly falls over the room as the eyes of every guest turn toward Dante. Sergio slinks back to his chair in defeat.
Dante adjusts the lapels of his jacket. “Several years ago, I came up with the idea to bring the Venom’s magic back. And with that one goal in mind, I’m pleased to announce this year’s returning team captain: Viktor Abbott. I trust that he will be as committed to the magic as I am.”
“Whoo!” Viktor jumps to his feet, applauds, and whistles all at the same time. “Yeah! Amazing!”
Knova’s eye twitches as she tugs at his blazer, but he doesn’t seem to notice. As a ripple of lukewarm applause passes through the room, Viktor bolts toward Dante’s seat. “May I?” he asks,from just close enough to the mic that his voice echoes through the room.
Dante nods. “Be my guest.”
Viktor all but hip-checks him out of the way. To my left, Bowen lets out a soft chuckle. Sometimes I forget that he’s new here, and that his brief time on the Venom has not prepared him for the shenanigans that I more or less take for granted these days.
