Our Broken Pieces - M.E. Clayton Page 0,60

an update of battery comparisons when my phone chimed. I looked down and saw a text from Rowan.

Rowan: Im downstairs, chick.

I glanced at the time on my phone.

Crap.

We agreed on lunch today when she had called me yesterday, telling me she was swinging by. I had told her Alaric was in town, and she had immediately bowed out. She knew how much I loved my brother and she knew we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together. I promised her lunch today, though. Alaric had flown out of Chicago this morning, and so I had lunch with Rowan and dinner with Gage planned for today.

I texted back.

Me: Crap! Sorry. Be right down.

I locked my computer, then grabbed my purse and my jacket. We were only going around the block to a corner café, but Chicago weather was moodier than a teenager girl on her period.

After the elevator ride down, I walked out into the lobby of CI and saw Rowan typing away on her phone. The girl had time off from work, but never had time off from work. She worked hard and nothing ever slowed her down. And from the way her fingers were flying across her phone, she was probably chewing someone out via text. Don’t get me wrong, though. Rowan wasn’t above causing a scene if she had to, but she tried to keep things professional if she could.

“Hey,” I said, saddling up to her. “Sorry. I forgot to set my phone alarm.”

She ignored me long enough to send off her text, then looked up at me and smiled. “No problem. I had some shit to take care of anyway.” She put her phone in her purse. “Ready?”

“Yeah. Now that I’m down here, I realize I’m starving.”

“Yeah, well, you better be good at multi-tasking because I will let you starve if I feel you eating lunch is cutting into the details about you and Gage fucking Evans,” she huffed.

When she had called to come over, I had mentioned Gage to her, without the details, and she’s been chomping at the bit ever since. “I promise to tell you everything,” I replied. “Well, not everything.”

Rowan laughed. “You’re not fooling anyone with that scarf, by the way,” she teased.

“Mystic?”

I whirled around at my name and that voice. “Gage?” My voice full of surprise. He’s been constantly calling me and texting me throughout the past two days, but he never said anything about being at CI today. Mr. Cavanaugh stood next to him, and I presumed they were either going to a meeting together or lunch. Or coming from. “What are you doing here?”

His blue gaze flicked towards Rowan before settling back on mine. “Lorcan and I had a morning meeting today to discuss some stuff.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, like he was restraining himself from touching me. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, sorry,” I stammered. “Gage, this is my best friend, Rowan Lewis.” I turned to look at Rowan. “Rowan, this is my…uh, Gage.” Shit. What the hell was he? Was he my boyfriend?

I watched as Gage extended his hand. Rowan took it in hers as he said, “Gage Evans, Mystic’s boyfriend.” I could feel my face flush with that announcement. A part of me was thrilled, another part of me thought the term lukewarm for what we were to each other.

Rowan smiled. “I’d say it’s good to meet you, but that’s still to be determined, though, isn’t it?” she replied as she pulled her hand back.

Gage lifted a brow as Mr. Cavanaugh let out a poorly disguised laugh, which reminded me of my manners. “Oh, my apologies,” I jumped in. “Rowan, this is Mr. Cavanaugh, my boss.”

Mr. Cavanaugh went to shake Rowan’s hand, and no one could miss the appreciation in his eyes. However, anyone with a working set of eyes could hardly blame him. Rowan was a knockout. We were both the same height, but she rocked the whole siren look. Rowan was professional sexy, and she exuded the confidence of a brain surgeon. Rowan was smart and she knew it.

She was also the perfect blend of blonde hair and blue eyes. Rowan looked like the girl next door, and that’s why she was constantly being underestimated. She was the shark no one saw coming during her audits and she thrived on it.

“Call me Lorcan,” Mr. Cavanaugh allowed as he took her hand.

Rowan smirked as she shook his hand. “That all depends on what Mystic has to say about you, too” she replied,