Page 104 of Indecent Obsession
I clear my throat. “So, Dante told me who he’s taking to the fundraiser this weekend.”
“Is that a question, trouble?” Wyatt grabs the bottle of wine and fills our glasses with a red.
This is the one thing I don’t feel bold about. After all, these dates have been planned since before we got together. What if these are women they’re actually interested in? That they would have dated if it weren’t for our arrangement. Will Finn and Wyatt resent me for tying them to me and not allowing them the freedom to explore those relationships?
That makes my throat sting, because I don’t want them to want other women. This may be temporary, but I don’t want to think about them with women after me.
“I’m taking Olivia Clark.” Finn chews on his bite thoughtfully. “She’s been after me to take her out forever. Guess I’ll disappoint her when I fuck you instead that night.”
Finn winks and gives me a smile that makes my insides burst into flames.
Olivia Clark is a gorgeous blond with brown eyes and a boob job to die for. The best money can buy. Not that I want one, but she looks amazing. She’s also catty and manipulative, but guys don’t always care about that. At events, she usually finds a way to insult every other woman at the table. Usually, backhanded compliments that guys don’t see as insulting.
Not looking forward to that.
“And you?” I turn to Wyatt. At least in Dante’s shirt, I feel a little more comfortable. It’s amazing what clothes do for a person. “Will it be Talia again?”
Wyatt’s dark eyes lift to mine. “No.”
I squirm in my seat, wanting his answer but knowing it will probably hurt. Or he would have just said it. Because the others didn’t hurt. Dante’s taking a girl as a favor. Finn’s taking a date he knew he’d end up having sex with. Those two track, but Wyatt…
Talia’s been his regular, go-to date for a while now. If he’s taking someone else, does that mean it was supposed to be an actual date? I swallow my bite of steak and it falls like a lump in my stomach.
“She’s going to find out.” Dante rests his elbows on the table. “You might as well tell her.”
Wyatt puts his fork down and sits back in his chair. “Tom set me up.”
“Okay.” I’m really trying not to panic here, but the way this is coming out means this is someone I know who has either been mean to me or will be mean to me. Meaner than Olivia Clark, and that’s saying something. “Just tell me and we’ll deal with it.”
Wyatt draws in a breath and blows it out. “Verity Baron.”
The name is like someone threw ice water on me.
“No.” I stand and back away from the table. I’ve been trained to not show reactions to information, but that name tears at my guts like nothing else can. My arms wrap around my twisting stomach. “Why?”
“Sara—” Wyatt reaches toward me.
I back away again. I can’t. Not her. Anyone but her.
“No. Why would Tom do that?” My breathing is labored. I can’t process anything past her. Why her?
Dante walks toward me with his hands outstretched like I’ll bolt. I’m tempted. Tempted to run for the bedroom and burrow under the blankets and pretend he did not say my ex-best friend’s name.
I want to rage and scream and hit. But right now, I just want to cry a little.
Dante’s arms catch me as I crumple. “I’ve got you, pip.”
Tears don’t fall, but they clog my throat, making it even harder to breathe. Dante lifts me against him and he carries me. I don’t care where or why. I just want to forget. It’s in the past and that’s where it should be left, but her name cuts me open all over again.
He surrounds me with his warmth and makes shushing noises meant to soothe me. My body feels cold even though he holds me. He runs his hand up and down my spine, but I can’t really feel anything.
Dante
It’s like someone took the light out of Sara. We were away at college when the fallout happened with her friends at school. Tom said it was bad, but he didn’t say it was this bad.
She trembles against me with her arms wrapped around herself protectively. This isn’t Sara. This isn’t the girl who stood up to bullies in grade school and stood up to us growing up. Whatever these girls did to her was bad.
Wyatt and Finn sit near us, but she doesn’t actually acknowledge their presence. Fuck, I’m not even sure if she knows I’m holding her.
