a story,” he said.
A story we could use as a blueprint, something reckless in Nina whispered. Maybe she should relocate her big girl knickers and say it out loud sometime.
Did she dare?
Maybe the more important question was: Could she bear not to?
“It is a story,” Jasmine grinned. “A filthy one.”
Jas was an oversharing kind of woman, though it never felt like oversharing because she was so charming. She had a golden ease about her that Nina had never mastered, one that came from being effortlessly adored. But that ease wasn’t how their friendship had developed; quite the opposite. When they first met, through the non-profit where Jas gave legal aid to the vulnerable, Nina had been drawn to what lay beneath the other woman’s sparkle.
Jasmine, despite all appearances to the contrary, hadn’t lived a life without struggle.
But she was happy as a pig in shit these days, and had been ever since shacking up with her bossy best friend.
Speaking of the devil, Rahul wandered over with another of those disapproving, but strangely attractive, frowns. “Jas,” he warned, before bending down to kiss her bare shoulder. “You’re going to traumatise our guests. Sorry,” he added to James, “she finds boundaries dull. It means she likes you.”
James, to his credit, simply blinked, then burst out laughing.
Nina had a decent number of friends, but her tendency to keep them at arm’s length meant they rarely met each other. She’d brought James along tonight because he refused to let her go anywhere alone—and because, truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to be without him. But watching him fit in so easily with Jas and Rahul was causing all sorts of gooey, melty feelings in her belly, like her stomach had turned into chocolate fudge cake.
Dinner was served, and the conversation continued to meander in lazy, comfortable waves. Nina let it wash over her, her mind occupied by other things. She knew she should be thinking about her current situation—about the legal questions she had, and the connections Jas had made over the years that they might be able to utilise. About the plan Nina had spent the last two days hatching, partly so she wouldn’t give in to her darkest urges and go back to that living room.
Instead, all she could think about was what she’d said to James: that Jasmine and Rahul had been friends for seven years before they’d gotten together.
And look at them. They were so obviously happy, so sickeningly meant for each other. It must have been nerve-wracking, risking a friendship as old and close as theirs. Must have been terrifying, wondering if a person you cared for so deeply on so many levels might not feel exactly the same. But they’d done it anyway. And their bravery had reaped rewards.
Nina’s gaze drifted across the table without permission, landing on James as he sipped a glass of water and twirled pasta onto his fork. She watched his strong hands move, watched his throat bob as he swallowed. Then her questing gaze reached his eyes, so dark and familiar and dear. She loved those eyes. She loved him.
Enough to risk it all.
And that settled things, didn’t it? As soon as this mess was over, as soon as she could breathe absolutely freely again… Nina was going to claim what she wanted.
She was going to claim James.
“Nina?” She saw his mouth moving before she fully processed that he’d spoken. Jolting back down to earth, she realised the whole table was staring at her, their plates empty and their expressions concerned.
Except for Jasmine, who was flashing what appeared to be a knowing smirk. The cow.
“Nina?” James repeated, his voice louder, his brow furrowed.
“I’m fine,” she said brightly. “Sorry. Fine. Just…” she turned to Jasmine. “Shall we talk now?”
“About your situation? Yes. I have some thoughts on the doxing and tips on how we typically handle threats or presumed stalking,” Jas said, rising from her seat. “Plus some ideas on executing the plan you texted me this morning. Shall we head to my office?”
Nina cleared her throat and nodded, bustling after a suddenly business-like Jas. But when she reached the doorway, she turned back to glance at James.
And found him watching her with the kind of intensity he usually saved for their secret moments in the dark.
When she caught him, he faltered for the barest second, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he lifted his chin and held her gaze steadily, almost as if he wanted to see her reaction.
Maybe she wasn’t the only one feeling