Casing ??

Chapter 35

"Hello?" My voice was probably less than flattering as I dabbed a napkin on my lips and swallowed some food.

"What are you eating?" The sound of James' voice made me smile. "Is it inappropriate to say I wish it was me?"

I let out a giggle. "Yes, but I like it," I admitted. "I'm having some delicious taco's, with Ava and her boyfriend. Though I'm currently third-wheeling hard."

I glanced at the couple, who'd now started feeding each other sensually, as if no one else was around at all. I both loved and hated it.

"Sounds nice. Mind if I crash your party?" he asked, and to be honest, my heart started racing just with the thought of an unofficial double date with my friend. "I'm off for today, Damian told me I had to get laid, 'cause I was being annoying."

"I can fix that later." I wished he was in front of me so I could give him a wink. I said, "Please crash the party, they've forgotten I'm here, I think. By all the food trucks."

"Save me a taco?"

The hope in his voice made me smile. "No promises. Hurry." I hung up, feeling all kinds of giddy as I took another bite of the shell I'd started when my phone rang, as I leaned across the table to tap Ava's shoulder. She looked startled and apologetic as she met my gaze, and I grinned. "James is coming, I hope you don't mind."

"Oh, not at all!" She sounded genuinely happy about it, actually, which warmed my heart. "Baby, Elina's boyfriend is joining us too."

Gage looked as if he didn't know who Elina was for a second, and I bit my lips together to hide my laughter. When he turned his head towards me, it was obvious he'd been lost in his girl, and forgot all about me, and I really, really liked that Ava had someone who cared that deeply about her after what I'd understood had happened to her in the past.

I didn't mind at all that I didn't exist to this guy. In fact, I applauded it. And I winked at him as he smiled apologetically my way.

"Probably for the best," he muttered, "since we're forgetting her. Sorry. Again."

"Again, don't be." I smiled reassuringly and eyed the last taco I'd bought, seriously considering eating it. Even if I said I'd save it for James. My kindness won over my stomach, and I let it sit, as I asked, "What do you do, Gage?"

I wasn't sure I wanted to ask, but an errand boy for someone far out of the inner circle of men and weapons couldn't possibly live on whatever he was paid to deliver stuff. This family was tight knit enough that errand boys weren't even that needed anymore. I knew dad had fired his a few years ago.

He cleared his throat and sat a little straighter, clearly trying to make an effort to be nice to Ava's friend. "I'm an editor for a magazine," he said, shrugging it off like it was nothing when Ava beamed up at him with pride.

A normal job. For a normal man. A good one, too.

"Have I heard of it?" I decided I liked having a conversation with someone who didn't know about the worst of the mafia and the public executions and didn't smell of blood when they got home from work.

That had happened at least twice since I officially got together with James. Both those times, that I knew of, he'd go straight for me, to kiss me. As if he was afraid I wasn't real, or something. He never washed up beforehand, and as a result, I had become so accustomed to the coppery tang in my nose as his lips touched mine, that I probably wouldn't even think twice about it anymore.

That scared me a little, so the innocent gleam in Gage's eyes interested me.

"I don't know, it's called Wireframe," he said, "it's a tech-thing."