Page 13 of Playing With Secrets
To stall, I lift my drink and sip. It happens to be red wine, so when I do, Jami glares at me and shakes his head.
It isn’t the smartest thing to be drinking, but sitting at dinner with him across from me has my nerves firing off extreme amounts of anxiety. Wine was the best option for relief.
Mel chimes in to save me. “Her love life is complicated.”
Thank you, Mel.
I owe you one.
“How so?” Aiden tilts his head and studies Melanie and me.
I place my wine down and avoid Jami’s confronting eyes. “Aiden, I’d rather not talk about this, so can I take a pass?”
“No, not this time. I have backup with me right now. If we pick this up when we’re alone, you’ll think it’s only me who believes it’s beyond reckless to be dating your boss.
“Now tell me what your plan is when this whole thing goes south because it will. You’ve got to know that.” Aiden’s expression is all that of an overprotective big brother.
My insides twist. “You can’t say that when you know nothing about it.”
“Mm-hmm. The problem is, I know a lot about it. You remember our parents’ relationship, don’t you?” The tendons in his neck grow tight.
Jami leans forward and rests his crossed arms against the table. His eyes are stuck on me. Mel lifts her drink and moves back.
So it looks like my opponents are Jami and Aiden.
I wave off Aiden’s question. “Of course, I remember. But it’s different.”
My relationship with Hunter isn’t so different and I know it.
“Let me set the record straight.” Aiden stabs the table with his index finger, tapping it with every point he makes.
“He’s a billionaire CEO. He’s a known playboy. He’s quoted saying that himself. You’re his direct report and have a clause in your contract stating you can’t date him. Meaning if you get caught, you lose your job. So far, I’m seeing very little differences.”
“Dad’s not a billionaire, and Mom didn’t have a clause that she would get fired. She quit because they thought it would be better for their relationship. They got married, didn’t they? And they’re still married.” I internally grimace.
This has got to be the worst argument I’ve ever made. They all groan and shift around as if I were the dumbest woman alive.
Aiden starts back up. “Dad has cheated on Mom for the entirety of their relationship. That’s the playboy connection. Mom cheats in retaliation because she won’t leave the security of Dad’s support.”
“But—”
“Stop. I’m not done.” Aiden shakes his head. “Like I was saying, I’m not sure they even love each other. If you and your boss get serious, you won’t be able to stay working there and you’ll end up just like them. This is probably the worst decision you’ve ever made.”
I lower my gaze and quietly respond. “I’m not a cheater and neither is he. Yes, the work thing is bad. But we’re not together right now.”
“Yet you stayed with him the entire weekend.” The animosity in Jami’s voice booms.
Urgency takes over me with a desire to relieve the sting he’s feeling from having this topic thrown in his face.
“Jami, that wasn’t romantic. You know why I was there, so please don’t be mad.”
And if I was trying to cover up my feelings for him, I just threw that away. My stomach knots and reminds me of how nauseous I am.
I stare at him across the table with my eyes full ofapologies. Melanie kicks my leg, so I turn to her. She subtly gestures to Aiden and takes a sip of her drink.
Shit.
Not wanting to, I face Aiden. He’s glaring at Jami. I may have just ruined their friendship.
