Page 6 of Play for Power (Central Sparks #3)

“He’s by himself for a start, there was a tan line on his left ring finger—I guess widowed is an option—but considering the amount of arrogance coming from him, my bets on divorced.

He had age lines on his face, but some were also caused by stress.

The fact he is here at this time makes me think he isn’t so important that he can cut out before the sun goes down.

” I flick my eyes up to Caleb, who tilts his head and smiles at me like he’s impressed.

My spine sits a little straighter as we make it back to the table.

“So, what about me?” he queries, and I settle into my chair, the rest of the table taking their extra drinks but continuing with their current conversations.

“What about you?”

“Well, you pinned him in under a second. What did you think of me when you first saw me?” He brings his whiskey to his lips and drinks as he settles in, facing me and leaning his head on his palm.

“Womanizer, salesman…” I narrow my eyes and tap my chin. He smiles playfully, shaking his head because he knows I’m right. “Momma’s boy,” I finish, pleased with myself.

Well, that is until I watch as his face slowly drops.

It’s only a split-second reaction but I catch it before he adverts his attention to Noah across the table, taking a measured sip.

After a tense moment, his smile is back, although it’s significantly more tense as he looks at me.

“Nailed me, didn’t you? Guess that’s all there is to know? ”

“Wha—” Before I have a chance to finish the question and find out what just changed, he flashes me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, then spins in his chair, directing his attention to Lucas and Ethan.

Uh, okay then. Maybe I read that wrong? Not a momma’s boy…maybe it’s mommy issues?

“How was work?” Addison pulls me from my thoughts and I shake myself out of it.

“Usual, idiots and morons everywhere. How’s studying going?” Addy, after crushing a law degree decided to become an overachiever and has thrown herself back into college. Teaching and psych double because why not!? I love her. She is incredible.

“Oh, you know, just one panic attack after another, the usual.” She laughs at herself with an underlying tone of self-deprecation and I notice Noah’s hand find her thigh.

“I’m trying to talk about it more. The whole anxiety and panic thing.

I feel like the less I hide it, the less harsh it will be.

I won’t be so worried about being judged if I’m open about it.

” She shrugs but I see the vulnerability in the way she averts eye contact with everyone.

Noah’s presence is immovable, and Casey reaches a hand across to her and squeezes. “Proud of you, Ads.”

“Ever need a partner at the Rage Cage, I’m game.” Jessie smiles at her.

“You’ll crush it, I’m sure,” I assure her.

“I’m here!” a loud shout announces, and the entire table startles as we turn toward the entrance to find a flushed and frazzled Riley fast approaching our table. The other Jenkins. Now we had three out of four. I’m sure Ava was busy being wonder mom.

“Guys, GUYS! You won’t believe it. I’m in love,” she pants, I think she might have run here.

Her older brother, Jessie, just grunts, wiping a hand down his exasperated expression while the rest of the table snickers. “What are you on about, chaos?”

“Okay, so…” I feel everyone at the table sink into a groan, Riley’s stories go forever.

I turn back to the table and settle into my drink as Riley forces herself between Lucas and Jessie, her attention ping-ponging between everyone’s faces. I tune out, secretly scrolling my emails, catching snippets of admissions office and something about followed to the bus …wait…

“You started?” I knew she had finally been offered a position at NYU, I hadn’t realized she accepted and was actually going to college. In all honesty, I fully expected the youngest of the Jenkins clan to float on charm and chaos for the rest of her life.

“Yes, well, no.” She takes a deep breath to slow down her panting, still catching her breath from running here. “I was going into the office to defer, I still haven’t decided if I want to go. Anyway, that is not the point of this story,” she scolds me, looking completely exasperated.

I chuckle gently under my breath, raising my hands in defense. “Apologies, Your Highness. Proceed.”

“Thank you. So, as I was saying, he stopped me before I got on the bus and asked for my number. When I gave it to him, he freaking winked at me and kissed my cheek. MY CHEEK! It was my Hallmark movie moment. I can officially die happy.” She sighs and lands her head in her hands as she rests her elbows on the table.

“You just gave your number to a stranger?” Jessie doesn’t sound too pleased.

“Riles, c’mon.” Addison shakes her head.

“He was another student, not a serial killer.”

“Serial killers don’t wear signs announcing themselves, how do you know he was a student?” That question comes from Lucas. Usually this wouldn’t be something worth noting, but he and Riley recently became roommates…and he’s been frowning at her, a lot.

“Ugh, you’re all boring.” She grunts, rolling her eyes, and I have to smother a laugh so I don’t encourage her antics.

“But all correct,” Ethan provides, his lips pulling into a tight smile.

“Whatever.” She sighs. The rest of the table goes back to whatever it was they were talking about, and I am about to do the same, but I catch Lucas’s lingering look of disappointment locked on Riley as she peels off her jacket and heads for the bar.

“What’s wrong with Virgin Mary?”

“Who?” Caleb, apparently acknowledging me again, turns to ask.

“Lucas.” I point in his direction.

Casey gasps. “We have a nickname?”

“Finally!” Addison claps her hands together. Lucas’s face snaps to mine with a disgusted snarl on his face and there is a beat of silence before the entire table bursts into laughter.

“How the hell am I Virgin Mary. I couldn’t be less of a virgin,” he says defensively, completely appalled with the name I concocted.

“Well, maybe you can tell me. I come here most weekends?—”

“Probably not something to brag about,” he interrupts me.

“I wasn’t, but I’ve seen you shoot down women who look like porn stars and models who are practically drooling on you.

Figured you were, like, saving yourself or something.

” I’m very aware Lucas is not a virgin, but watching him squirm and get his balls of ferocious masculinity all wound up is just the type of entertainment I am after.

I mean, If Caleb was no longer interested in playing a game for fun, I had to get my jollies off somehow.

“Hang on…I didn’t turn… well, I have, but that’s…why were you even…” He continues to stutter and shift on his seat, his face screwing up in frustration as he tries to pin his words together. I just tilt my head with a questioning look like I haven’t a clue what he means.

“Keep your nose out of my business, Garcia.” The aggression in his tone is downright lethal, and it’d almost be attractive if he wasn’t my friend. But I made the mistake of sleeping with a member of the group once and I’ll never do it again. Stupid stage-five clingers.

“All right, easy, man. Go cool off.” Caleb gently brushes him off while chuckling. Lucas just downs the rest of his drink and heads for the exit.

I side-eye Caleb at his response, but he barely spares me a glance. Weird.

“What’d I miss?” Riley queries as she makes it back to the table.

“Lucas got his titties in a twist,” I reply.

“Which was your doing,” Caleb responds.

“If he can’t handle the heat, he should stay out of the kitchen.” I flash Caleb a look, playful but full of intent that gets me nowhere. He just shakes his head, returning to his conversation with the guys.

“It’s fine, I’ll see him at home.” Riley waves us off.

The rest of the night continues relatively drama-free. Stella stopped by our table to deliver a round of drinks from Lucas, who never made it back to the table.

After another hour, I was ready to boot it. I need a shower, my pajamas, and the low hum of Vibey-Viv to finally be done with this day.

“Right, well, I’m heading out. See you at home?” I ask Casey.

“Oh, I’m going to crash with Jessie tonight.” Her words are laced with guilt, so I level her with a knowing look.

“Don’t be silly, at least that means I’ll actually get some sleep.

You two suck at keeping it down.” It was true and also revolting to listen to.

But a little part of me is happy for Casey.

She finally knew what it was like to get laid properly.

Jessie just smiles at me, proud as punch at the inadvertent compliment.

“I’m out too.” Caleb busies himself with his coat, saying goodbye to the guys while I do the same. Not waiting around, I head straight for the door. Of course, Caleb doesn’t waste any time catching up.

“Share an Uber?”

“Why?” I narrow my eyes at him and he just throws his head back and breathes a frustrated sigh.

“I was being nice.”

“Interesting, you cold-shouldered me for pretty much the entire night, but now you’re nice?”

“I didn’t cold-shoulder you. Why, you miss me?” He smirks. Ugh, he’s back.

“I take it back, you can cold-shoulder me all you like.” I turn and start to head for the corner of the block—fewer people and easier to get the Uber.

Caleb follows slowly behind me, apparently done with poking me, and when I turn to look back at him discreetly, he wears a look I don’t see him wear often.

Something that kind of looks like defeat.

“All right, fine, we can share an Uber.” I huff, reluctantly.

I don’t know why I give in, he kind of just looks like a lost puppy, and for some reason, I don’t like it.

“Nah, I think I’m going to walk instead.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I live a few blocks over, it’s a short walk.

” I look in the direction he pointed, then back at him.

Both of us have stopped near the corner of the street, a few steps between us, no words spoken.

The sounds of the busy city streets and buzzing late-night venues are all I can hear, but the intensity of Caleb’s eyes seems to grip the entirety of my attention, I couldn’t look away if I tried.

“Night, Rosebud,” he finally says, quietly but with a gentle smile, turning down the block and heading in the direction he had indicated before.

It isn’t until my phone beeps to tell me that my Uber is here that I realize I never said anything back.

Just stared after him like some gawking weirdo.

Jesus. I need a good eight hours, I’m clearly losing my mind if I’m thinking things like walking with Caleb, or insisting he ride with me.

Maybe even heading toward insanity, because I, for some reason, feel a small pinch of loneliness. There’s a drop of longing in there too.