Page 95 of Not In The Contract

I sucked in a breath and followed Alex up the steps and into the café. I took in as much as I could on the short trip into a gorgeous courtyard, where white wrought iron tables and chairs littered the quaint garden. Unmistakably, and gathered around the largest table in the courtyard, sat Alex’s group of friends.

My heart thudded a little harder as we approached them and a woman with wild dark curls and a bright smile spotted us first.

“Alex!” she called, causing all heads to turn.

“Mia!” Alex called back, jogging the last few steps and hugging Mia tightly. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.”

“I felt bad making my wife fly when she’s terrified of flying.” She giggled, and a woman with short blonde hair scoffed. Mia’s eyes landed on me. “Who is this?”

Alex turned back and held her hand out, and I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to take it or not.

Sensing my hesitation, she smiled at me.

“Ladies, this is Devon,” she said, looking back at her friends. “Devon, this is, well, everyone.”

I lifted a hand in greeting. “Hi, everyone.”

In a rush of movement I was dragged to the table and plopped into a seat next to Alex. Mia sat down beside me, the diamond on her ring finger almost blinding as she waved her hand to silence the women.

“Would you guys be quiet?” She giggled. “Devon doesn’t know any of us yet, take a breath!”

Silence drifted around the table and Mia’s wife chuckled softly.

“Okay,” Mia said with a laugh. “This is going to be a lot, but let’s introduce everybody.”

She ran through everyone’s names and I desperately clung to them, trying to fix each name to its owner’s face. I hadn’t expected there to be so many people. When Alex talked about her friends, it was always the same four names that came up. The rest of the women were their significant others. All except Taylor.

She nudged me gently with a grin. “So, what’s it like living with a tyrant?” She giggled.

Alex flipped her off and she only laughed harder.

I glanced at Alex, acutely aware that all eyes were on me.

“I can't say I wasn’t surprised by the amount of responsibilities that Alex has,” I answered. “You’ve probably heard it enough, but normal people figure that people with money don’t have to work as much.”

The two other young women nodded fervently and the tiny knot of nerves in my chest loosened.

Taylor frowned, her expression considering. “We’ve heard it before but it’s nice to know we’re still working hard.” She chuckled.

“Some of us could do with a little more responsibility,” Alex said pointedly, throwing a mischievous glance at Hayden.

Thank God I’d rememberedonename…

“I can’t manage every single one of my restaurants,” Hayden said with a sharp grin. “How would I have the time to watch my Frankie on stage?”

Her partner, Frankie, blushed bright enough that all of her freckles disappeared.

“Tell us about your studies, Devon,” Taylor cut in, throwing a disgusted look over at the pair. “Before those two turn this lovely restaurant into an R-rated establishment.”

“We have never done that,” Hayden pointed out, her smirk turning salacious. “Yet.”

“Please talk about your studies,” Alex encouraged, the mock desperation in her eyes twin to Taylor’s.

“Uh, okay, I guess you all know I’m studying psychology?” I giggled.

“What made you choose it in the first place?” Hayden asked, her thumb brushing along the back of Frankie’s hand.

“My mom,” I answered simply. “She went through a lot growing up and it was in part a search for closure and then it became something I wanted to know more about. Roughly seven or eight years later, I think I’ve learned as much as I can.”