Page 71 of The C Agreement

A movement caught the corner of my eye, and I realized the garage door was going up. I jammed my SUV into reverse, backed out, and shot down the street, the feeling in my sternum still there.

Not only could I be the reason my mother had waited to find a partner, but also, maybe she hadn’t been as happy as I thought she was back then.

Normally, I would head to a bar, find some chick, take her home, bang the fuck out of her, and send her on her way. But I’d made this bet. And a promise to Rayne. So, I went home instead.

It was going to be a long night.

TWENTY-SIX

RAYNE

“I’m drunk.”

Delaney and I exchanged looks and burst out laughing at Vivian’s statement.

We had sat her down at the kitchen island, given her some water, and waited for her to sober up a bit while we sipped our own drinks and snacked on food.

I rubbed her back. “The good news is, you’re not as drunk as you were a half hour ago.”

She groaned. “I don’t remember a half hour ago.”

“Exactly,” Delaney said.

Vivian looked up at the two of us, standing next to her. “Did I make a fool of myself?”

“For a normal person, no. For you…” I started.

“Yes,” Delaney finished.

Vivian dropped her head in her hands and groaned again.

Wrapping an arm around her, Delaney said, “Don’t worry too much, Viv. You were cute and fun, and Rayne and I loved seeing you let loose a little.”

“This is why I don’t drink.”

“Maybe just take it a little more slowly,” I suggested.

“Or not drink at all.” Vivian scanned the room. “Where’s Dominick?”

Her question was answered when her boyfriend went to the front door to let in another guest.

Delaney stiffened, I gasped, and Vivian bolted off the stool.

“What the fuck ishedoing here?” Delaney said in a low voice.

The new guest was Preston St. James III, Delaney’s ex-husband.

“Oh my God, I didn’tinvitehim,” Vivian protested. “He’s anamepartner.” She looked down at herself in horror. “I can’t let him see me like this. I’ll never move up in the company again.”

Preston was at the top of the ladder at Benowitz & St. James while Vivian was an associate. She’d recently been promoted, but she was still an associate.

Delaney scoffed. “Preston wouldn’t do that. This is a party at your home. You’re not working, and you’re not out in public. He’s not going to hold this against you.” She rolled her eyes. “And now, you just made me defend my ex.”

I snorted.

“Besides, if he gives you any grief at all, I have some stories I could tell you.” The corner of Delaney’s mouth tipped up in what could only be described as a wicked smile.

“When did your boyfriend get so chummy with your boss?” I asked as Dominick and Preston laughed at something they were talking about.

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