Written with Regret (The Regret Duet #1)(4)

I’d been “loaded” by most people’s standards since Kaleidoscope had first taken off, but I didn’t spend enough time at home to justify forking over massive amounts of cash on an apartment that would serve as nothing more than a glorified hotel room. And I guessed when your boss was the third-richest person in America, my one-bedroom apartment, no matter how clean and spacious, probably did look like a dump.

“I’ll start apartment hunting tomorrow.”

She grinned, all pearly white and saccharin sweet. “Smart man.”

Shaking my head, I tore my blue stare away from her to find Ian making his way toward us. His tall, lean body weaved through the chattering guests, but his stoic, brown eyes were locked on mine, disapproval carved into his features.

While I’d always been the consummate bachelor, Ian was slightly…well, boring. I loved the guy, truly. But while my weekends were spent mingling with socialites, his were spent at his house in the burbs, a book in one hand and, if his lack of female companionship over the last few years was any indication, his dick in his other.

Stopping in front of us, he shoved a hand into the pocket of his navy slacks and pointedly flicked his gaze to where Veronica’s red fingernails were toying with a button on my shirt. “You two didn’t waste any time.”

“It’s been hours since the funds hit the bank and we’re both still dressed.” I shot Veronica a wink and shifted her deeper into my side. “I’d say that’s an unprecedented display of self-restraint.”

Ian rolled his eyes.

Veronica giggled.

And I breathed, free and easy, as if it were the first day of my entire life.

Taking the champagne from my hand, Ian inspected the label. “Christ, are you chugging vintage Dom? This bottle could have paid our rent in college.”

“Didn’t you hear?” I leaned in close and whispered, “We’re loaded now.”

He kept his eye on the bottle, an unmistakable grin pulling at the corners of his lips. Yeah. He was proud of us too.

He lifted his gaze to mine, that subtle grin stretching into a full-blown smile. “Ah, fuck it.” He threw the bottle up for a long draw.

I roared with laughter and my head filled with a high that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

Things were just…good.

Life had never been easy for me. Chaos had been following me like a dark cloud, looming and hovering, casting its shadow far and wide despite how bright the path in front of me should have appeared. After growing up the way I had, where happiness had been more of a privilege than a choice, I knew better than to believe that that moment would be anything other than fleeting.

And one second later, the universe proved me right.

My attention was drawn from Ian when the doorbell rang. People had been coming and going all night, not bothering with courtesies like knocking. I’d greased the palms of the couple who lived downstairs not to call the cops if things got rowdy. But it was only nine. Things were far from rowdy. Especially considering that Veronica was still wearing clothes.

The idea made me grin down at her, taking a peek at her cleavage.

“I’ll get it,” Ian said. “I’m heading out anyway.”

“What?” My head snapped up. “You just got here.”

“Yeah, and I’m just leaving. As very appealing as watching you get shit-faced before sneaking off to your bedroom sounds, I’d rather my ears fall off than be forced to listen to one more minute of Brandon’s bullshit investment opportunities. Heads-up, he’s waiting on you so he can pitch a dodgeball-brewery combination in Milwaukee.”

“That sounds like a legal nightmare.”

“My thoughts exactly. Now, I’m leaving, so it’s your job to break the news to him. And I swear to God, Caven, if I wake up in the morning to find logo mockups for Fast Ball Brewing in my email, I will hunt you down and—”

“Yeah yeah yeah. Maybe on second thought, you should go.” I took the champagne and passed it off to Veronica before giving him a shove toward the door. “I have six hundred million dollars to blow tonight. The last thing I need is your voice of reason in my head.”

“Half,” he grumbled. “Only half of that money is yours, asshole.”

“Right. Right. Half. I’ll try to keep that in mind while shopping for malted-barley-shaped dodgeballs.”

He glared at me over his shoulder, a lip twitch giving him away as we made our way to the door.

It was March, but the city had been hit by a cold snap including a light dusting of snow, and we were expecting more overnight. While Ian got busy doing the abominable snowman routine with his coat, scarf, and gloves, I opened the door to see who had rung the bell.

A cursory check revealed an empty hallway.

And that’s when I heard it: the sound that changed not only my entire life in the present, but my life for all future days to come.

At first, it was just a grunt, but as if that baby could feel my gaze, the minute my eyes made contact, it let out a sharp cry.

Confusion hit me like a lightning bolt, sending me back a step. I used the doorframe for balance as I took in the yellow blanket with a hole only big enough to reveal a pale-pink face.

“What the fuck?” I breathed. Glancing around the hall, I waited for someone to jump out and start laughing. When no one spoke up to issue a punchline, I took a step closer and repeated, “What the fuck?”