Page 13 of The Spare
“No ”—he feigned a gag—“I’d never flirt with you.”
I rolled my eyes and skated past the insult. “Do you want to tell me why you’re here five hours earlier than expected?”
“Figured I’d make you leave work early.”
I managed to get another hour of work done, and Xander worked a bit too. Then, we decided to leave early. I tucked my laptop in my bag, expecting to work on the weekend to make up for it. We were headed to get something to eat and probably watch a movie, unless any of our friends were planning to go out.
“I might be late for Thanksgiving. I’m going to try to finish the Hightower merger offer before I leave,” I told him as we left my office.
“I’m driving to the house early, so I’ll meet you there. I can take Astor,” Xander offered. We all lived and worked in Manhattan, but Thanksgiving was always at the Amari country house in upstate New York. “You should go with Marcus. He’s driving up a little later too. Make sure he shows up this year.”
“Oh really?”
Xander nodded.
I had tried my best to keep my mind clear of him the past week, but the memories of the gala replayed in my mind. We had fun—at least I did. I couldn’t remember a time when he and I had spent so much time together, just the two of us.
I had to remind myself that he danced with me and listened to me ramble on about work all night to be a good stand-in when Xander had to leave. Nothing more than that.
“I’ll text him,” I said.
Me
We’re driving over to Thanksgiving together
Me
You’ve been deemed a flight risk
Marcus
A GPS ankle monitor would be easier, don’t you think?
I spent way too much time thinking about how to respond. Then I remembered that I was madly in love with Marcus’s car. His black McLaren Artura was the car I wish I had a reason to drive. Most of the time, people like Marcus and Henry traveled with drivers for ease and the ability to hold meetings while en route. Being able to drive was a rare treat. And if driving was a treat, then indulging in a fine piece of machinery was necessary.
Me
An ankle monitor isn’t nearly as entertaining
Me
Besides, I need to spend some time with the Artura
The feeling of the engine humming and sending a faint vibration through the car as it sliced through turns was heavenly. Watching an ten-part movie series centered around illegal street racing starting in my hormone-driven teenage years did something to me.
Marcus
I’m driving
CHAPTER7
Sloan
Xander and I ended up going out.
We met some friends at an upscale lounge in Chelsea. Upon arrival, we bee-lined to where they’d congregated and were waiting with a table full of drinks, clearly having started without us.
“Sloan!” The guys were quick to get up and welcome me, making me feel like a goddess among men. We were a rambunctious bunch.
