Elastic Hearts (Hearts #3)(86)

“You need to remember.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are we done here? I need to go see if Grey’s still sleeping.”

“You have the video monitor attached to your ass. I’m pretty sure he’ll alert you when he wakes up,” Victor said. “Can you answer my f*cking question before I punch your husband?”

Oh motherf*ck. She was not. And she was a mom?

“Estelle’s my best friend. I’m not going to miss her birthday,” Mia said.

“Okay, and who did you come with?” Victor pressed.

“Jesus Christ. With this idiot,” she said, pointing at Jensen, who started laughing again. “Why?”

“She thought you were my girlfriend,” Victor said, his eyes cutting to me. I wasn’t looking at him, but I could feel them on me.

“What?” Mia said, laughing now. “Oh my God. That’s disgusting.” She paused and looked at me. “No offense or anything.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but there was absolutely nothing I could say.

“Don’t worry, this one right here is your brand of crazy,” Jensen said, pointing at Mia with his thumb. She pushed him.

“Shut up,” she said, then looked at me again. “Why . . . oh. Is it because our pictures in the tabloids? I told you we were famous. I’m a huge fan of yours. Well, I was a huge fan of Gabriel, but then all that . . . stuff happened, so I’m not as big a fan as I used to be, but I still like him as an actor because he’s really good.”

Jensen wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. “Babe.”

“What?”

“Your fangirl is showing.”

She buried her face in her hands and took a breath before looking at me again. “I talk a lot when I’m nervous.”

I smiled. “That’s fine. I’m sorry for probably giving you the biggest bitch face earlier. I really didn’t know you guys were just friends.”

“Totally fine. Totally cool,” Mia said. I smiled at her and everyone else before excusing myself once again. As I walked away, I heard Mia say, “She’s officially my new best friend,” and I had to laugh.

“You thought I was dating someone?” Victor asked when he caught up to me. “And you didn’t even f*cking think to ask?”

“How would I ask?”

“You could have called.”

“You broke up with me.” And it broke my heart.

He narrowed his eyes, jaw set. I raised an eyebrow, daring him to take a different approach. “You’re going home with me.”

“What?”

“Tonight. You’re going home with me, and we’re going to have this f*cking conversation. Either you go with me, or I go with you. You pick, but I swear to God if that Brent guy shows up at your house I’ll get arrested, and you’ll have to bail me out of jail.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing but was unsuccessful. “You’re the lawyer.”

He scoffed. “If I get to keep my license.”

My smile dropped. “What do you mean?”

“Your dad didn’t tell you?”

I blinked and shook my head slowly.

“We’re having a meeting with the associates on Monday to see if they want to keep me on board as partner.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“What did he tell you?”

“That you told him you had feelings for me.”

“He didn’t tell you what we argued about?”

“No,” I said, frowning. “What the did you argue about?”

“You.”

“Me?” I asked. My head was spinning. I needed to sit down for this. I needed an entire bottle of wine for this.

“Come home with me,” he said. “I’ll tell you everything.”

“Okay.” I paused. “Okay, but I need to call Marcus.”

Victor growled. “Always calling some guy.”

“He’s security detail, and a friend,” I said, rolling my eyes as I took out my phone and dialed. “Marcus, you don’t have to pick me up tonight.”

Before I could explain anything, Victor snatched the phone from my hand. “Marcus, this is Victor. If you must know, she’s coming home with me, and she’s staying until, and if, I let her go. If I let her go, I’ll be the one driving her home, so if she f*cking calls you before five in the afternoon tomorrow, ignore the call. Thanks. Bye.”

He hit the end button before handing the phone back to me and all I could do was stand here, holding my hand out to take it.

This. Fucking. Guy.





WE STAYED AT the party long enough to sing happy birthday. Long enough for Victor’s friends to tell him he was whipped and make fun of him. Long enough for him to send them all to hell. And long enough for me to witness Victor holding a baby with so much care and love, I was afraid my ovaries would explode right there. Neither one of us said a word on the drive to his house, me because I was afraid I would say the wrong thing. I wasn’t sure what his silence was about, but it was making me nervous. He hadn’t touched me either. Not since we were outside, when he would do the occasional drift of his fingers along my bare shoulder to call my attention. It made my stomach dip every time and even though I tried to focus on the wine, after two glasses I didn’t even want any more.