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“I have a thing with rodents,” he says, his voice tight. “It’s fine. You’re not in trouble, just get rid of it.”
“I’m not going to kill my sister’s guinea pig.”
“I didn’t mean…” He shakes his head, looking positively rattled. “Take him home.Now.”
“Wish I could, but I have a lot of work to do. I can’t sacrifice the whole morning.”
“Take your laptop. Work from home,” Nathan quickly suggests. “Anything you need to be in the office for, just ask for Dawn’s help.”
“You’re that scared of guinea pigs?”
He flashes me a warning look, his masculinity questioned. “Notscared.I just don’t like rodents. The beady eyes. The weird paws that look like frog hands mixed with talons. Not to mention the tails.”
“Oh, guinea pigs are tailless.” I spin Spike around and show Nathan his furry butt. My boss flinches at the sudden movement. “Wow.That bad, huh?”
He hangs his head in shame, and it takes everything in me to remain respectful and not burst out in laughter. Clamping his eyes shut, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Spencer, please take it home.”
“Okay. I will.” I carefully deposit Spike into his carrier. Nathan visibly relaxes.
“Call me if you need anything.” He makes a beeline to his office. With his back turned, I finally unleash my smile.
Oh, silly, silly Nate.We’re at war, boss.
You shouldn’t have shown me your Achilles’ heel.
16
Nathan
“How was Greece?” I ask Finn right as he pops a generous piece of steak in his mouth. I have to wait for him to chew and swallow.
“Unlike anything you’ve seen,” he finally replies. “I’m kicking myself for not having gone sooner.”
The restaurant I picked feels a little too romantic for a guys’ dinner. There’s a soft glow on Finn’s face from the flickering candle between us. Between the crystal chandelier right above our table, the butter, which is carved into tiny roses, and the private table with a plush, velvet curved booth, it’s as if one of us is about to drop down on one knee.
“Mind if I put this out? It’s distracting.”
Finn lets out a rich chuckle before licking his fingers and pinching the flame. It sizzles, then leaves a pencil-width tail of smoke. “Thank God you said something. I was concerned this whole evening was you putting down the moves. No judgment or anything, but I’m a married man.”
“You jackass. I’m way out of your league, anyway.”
Finn smirks. “Oh please. I could have you if I wanted you.”
I laugh. “Steak is damn good though, right?” That’s why I picked Lumeere. Best dry-aged wagyu in the city. Not to mention the largest selection of scotch I’ve ever seen.
“So good, I’m ordering one for my wife to go.” He holds up his hands. “On my dime.”
“Not a chance. I would be more than happy to buy Avery dinner. It’s the least I can do. I uh…” I hesitate, running my hand down my face and bracing for an uncomfortable conversation. “I never got the chance to apologize for missing your wedding. I didn’t deserve an invitation to begin with, and then bailing last minute, I just…”
I RSVP’d to Finn and Avery’s wedding. For a long time, he was one of my closest friends. But after I lost Elise, guess I was determined to lose everyone. I stepped out on our friendship, and Finn honestly shouldn’t be as cool with me as he is right now.
“You don’t need to apologize. I didn’t expect you to come.”
Pulling in my lips, I bob my head. “So we both already knew I’m shitty.”
“No.” Finn crosses his arms and leans back. He examines me like a shrink would a patient in denial. “I don’t think you’re shitty. I just imagine weddings are a trigger for you.”
“Only weak men are triggered by their friends’ happiness.”