She tsks me and crosses her arms over her chest. “Being friends with someone doesn’t put that look on your face,” she teases.
Taking a deep breath, I know I can’t hide anything from her. It’s pointless. “We’re trying things out, feeling our way through . . . whatever this is.”
“I’m so happy for you, Ali.”
“Don’t get all crazy,” I say, rolling my eyes. “And please don’t mention it to anyone. It’s nothing official and I don’t want people asking about it.”
We exchange a look, one filled with memories we’d both like to forget.
“Understood.” She walks around the table and pulls me into a quick embrace. “I won’t meddle, but if you need anything, just ask.” She starts to leave but pauses at the doorway. “I knew someone would sweep you off your feet . . .”
“Friends, Mom!” I laugh, exasperated.
“Friends. Right,” she shrugs, and shortly after, the front door closes.
Then it opens again.
“Alison, there’s a man that’s just pulled up in a Range Rover?” She peeks her head around the front door. “I’m guessing that’s something to do with your friend?”
My jaw hangs open. I have no idea why Troy would be here, besides that Lincoln called, but I’ve had no time to get ready.
“Yeah,” I say, “go on. It’ll be fine.”
She smiles too brightly and leaves, but the door stays partially open. Before I can get to it, Lincoln pops his head around the corner.
“Hey there,” he grins in his adorable way. He chuckles when he realizes how gobsmacked I am. “Expecting me?”
“Not really,” I laugh.
“Well, I called earlier because I need a good workout. I thought Hux could head to the Farm with me and play some ball, if that’s all right?”
My brain scrambles for something to grasp on to. “Yeah, I guess. I mean . . .”
“And,” he draws out, “my brother has had a terrible day. I’m sure he’d like to see you, if you don’t mind accompanying us.”
“He doesn’t know you’re here?”
His head shakes. “Nope. It’ll be a surprise.”
“Lincoln, with all due respect, I’m not sure this would be something Barrett would appreciate. I know he has work to do, and I don’t want to intrude. Nor do I know how he’ll take it if I bring Hux there.”
He leans against the doorjamb and I’m glad Lola isn’t here. If she were, she’d be tackling him and having her way with him. He’s ridiculously handsome in a boy-next-door kind of way, if you live by a boy that could possibly show up on the cover of a magazine.
“Alison, with all due respect, you aren’t intruding.” He looks at the ceiling before finding me again. “You’ll be my guest. How’s that?”
He snickers at my reaction.
“Yeah, that’ll go over really well,” I say.
“Exactly. You show up with me, and I’ll guarantee you Barrett will fall all over himself to be with you. He’s not going to leave us alone together,” he winks.
“I’m taking that to mean you’ve had arguments over girls before?”
“Nope,” he says, popping the last sound, “because my brother has never had one before you that would’ve been worth my time.”
My cheeks heat at his words and his cocky little grin goes wider. A dimple sinks into his cheek just like it does Barrett’s.
“Today, my brother needs you,” he says, laughing as Huxley comes barreling down the hallway with a grin a mile wide. “So if you think as much of him as I think you probably do, which is half as much as you should think of me,” he smirks, “get your stuff and let’s go.”
Barrett
“Motherfucker,” I grimace, feeling my blood pressure soar through my veins. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m not kidding about any of it,” Nolan says through the phone. “Apparently she’s saying you knocked her up a couple of years ago and paid for her to abort the baby.”
“It’s bullshit,” I say, exasperated. I fall back into my chair and peer at the lawn of the Farm through my office window. “I only dated her for a couple of months. I barely even remember her.”
He laughs, but it’s not one of amusement. “I’m sure. The faces must bleed together at some point.”
“Very funny, Nolan,” I groan. “Just deny it. I don’t fucking know. Make her come up with proof because there is none that ties it to me.”
“You know she volunteered to not say anything if you cut her a check for fifty thousand.”
“I’m not paying her fifty cents. This is extortion.”
“This is politics on a grand scale, Barrett. She won’t be the last, so prepare yourself.”
I can hear the judgment in his voice, the sound that says without saying that he’d be a lot happier managing Graham or Ford than me.