Sinner (Shelter Harbor #1)(140)
“No, but for real, how’s everyone treating you over there?”
“They’re all fine. I’m hitting the ground running, but it’s going well.”
There’s a beeping sound and Holden’s face suddenly disappears from my screen.
“Sorry, he had to go check on dinner.”
I raise a brow. “Holden’s cooking?”
“Yeah! He wanted to pick it up as part of his whole new health kick.”
“And-”
“Oh, he’s a natural,” London says loudly over her shoulder before turning back to me with a horrified look on her face and her tongue out.
“Send delivery,” she whispers dramatically, making me giggle.
“And how’s everything with Landon?”
My eyes snap to her - her and that knowing, impish grin.
“He’s fine,” I say quickly. “He’s helping me get my bearings with all this.”
“Lots of late nights at the office, huh?”
“Man, fuck Landon Reece,” Holden shouts from somewhere in the background. “That guy is a colossal douchebag.”
“Oh, you’re just mad because he took me out that one night.”
“It sure as shit doesn’t help my opinion of him.”
She’s referring to that night in Houston. The night Landon took my friend out to try and head-hunt her away from the Houston Bulls - the night she ditched him to go see Holden, and the night he and I bumped into each other at the dive bar.
Yeah, that night in Houston.
Holden reappears on my screen. “Sorry you’ve gotta work with that dick-wad. Just think of it as your trial by fire before your big payout.”
I laugh. “He’s not that bad, Holden.”
His eyes narrow. “No, believe me, he is.”
“Aww, this sounds personal,” London coos, dramatically petting her fiancé’s cheek. “There there, Holden.”
He frowns. “I’m serious. The guy thinks he’s a golden boy because Sam Horn treats him like a little prince.”
“Well,” I shrug. “He’s good at what he does, I’ll say that. Still,” I sigh, looking at London. “This whole thing is way more complex than I thought it’d be.”
“Too bad it didn’t end up being sex toys, huh?”
“Well, Landon Reece is a dildo, so you’ve got that.”
I snort a laugh at Holden as my friend turns and prods him in the arm.
“Look, I’m sorry you don’t like him, Holden, but he’s been a huge help to me here.”
“Because he’s trying to fuck you.”
“Holden!”
London glares at him but he just shrugs. “Sorry, not trying to be crude, Serena, but I’m not kidding.”
“He’s not trying to fuck me, Holden,” I say with a forced roll of eyes.
He’s successfully fucking me, actually, I want to add out loud.
I deny that impulse.
“That’s exactly the kind of guy he is. Everything about that fuckin’ suit is about chasing tail.”
London snorts. “Right, cause you were a saint before we met.”
Holden’s face reddens - not exactly a frequent occurrence with him. He turns back to me. “Look, just passing it on. The guy has a bit of a rep. Heard any talk around the office about Denise Owens?”
I frown and take a quick sip of my wine, hoping it hides the bewilderingly angry flush on my cheeks at all this discussion about Landon and his apparent sexploits.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Holden, she just works with the guy,” London says dismissively. “Quit trying to sabotage her new-”
“No, no, hang on,” I stop her, speaking too quickly. “What about Denise Owens.”
Holden glances at London before shrugging. “She was this new contract rep we had last winter. I dunno the details, except that she and Landon had a little extracurricular thing going on, if you catch my drift.”
“She’s not twelve, Holden, I think she gets the innuendo.” London rolls her eyes and punches his arm playfully.
Yeah, I get the innuendo. I also get a creeping feeling climbing up inside of me that can really only be labeled one thing.
Jealousy.
Petty, stupid, bewildering, ridiculous, totally unfounded jealously.
“And what exactly is so scandalous about two consenting adults having a good time?” London says sharply. “Nothing wrong with that, right Serena?”
I blink quickly, snapping out of it as I drag my eyes back to hers through the camera. “Uh, nope.”
And honestly, why am I getting so drawn in by this story? Why should I care about who Landon slept with so long ago? Not only is it none of my business, but it has nothing at all to do with-