I slump back down on my stool, jabbing my fork into the pie. But it seems to have lost all taste.
Val leans into me. “Your boyfriend is definitely not in the CIA.”
“That guy is your boyfriend?”
I don’t even know what James means by the tone in his voice, but it’s offensive any way you look at it. I spin on the stool and give him my fiercest look. While it would wither most people, he’s unaffected, still just looking shocked. “Yes, that’s my boyfriend.”
“Almost a fiancé,” Val adds, and I really wish she wouldn’t have, because honestly, it’s been a while since Dale and I have talked about the whole marriage thing.
Being an accountant, Dale is slightly obsessed with being fiscally responsible. Which has meant putting off even discussing the next step in our relationship again and again. I tried telling him once I’d happily live on ramen, and he looked so horrified, I didn’t bring it up again.
“What is an almost fiancé?” James scoffs.
“He’s not—whatever.” I wave my fork. “He’s my boyfriend. It’s serious.”
“That guy? The boring, buttoned-up one you just took out with one little hit?”
It’s the little hit comment that does it. I’m really not a violent person. I mean, not unless a situation calls for it. Even when I played derby, I was a jammer—more about speed and agility than big hits and blocking. Still, I know how to hit, and no one expects it coming from little ol’ me. When I stand and launch a hip hit into James’s thigh, I give it all I got.
Which leaves him on the floor exactly where Dale was just moments ago. Instead of getting down to help him, I stand over him, hands on my hips. He clutches his thigh, groaning.
“You gave me a charley horse!”
“You deserve worse.” I lift my chin. “And I regret nothing.”
“I’m your boss,” James groans, giving me an incredulous look.
Dale chooses that moment to come out of the bathroom. He’s glancing down at his phone. When he looks up and sees me standing over James, Dale drops the phone and it goes clattering across the floor.
I give James one last, withering look. “You’re not my boss until tomorrow.”
With that, I step over James’s prone body to collect my boyfriend.
I have a feeling I’m really, REALLY going to regret my new job.
Don’t miss The Bluff, Winnie’s and James’s story! Grab it HERE!
A Note From Emma
I joked with someone that I needed to get a T-shirt after finishing this book saying, “I finished writing The Buy-In!” I have been wanting to write this book since I wrote Falling for Your Best Friend （Harper’s story）， and yet, when I started … it just took forever. Some books do. I’m so happy with how this one turned out, but also SO GLAD to have it done.
I LOVE the Graham family. Tank, James, Collin, and Pat just came alive to me when I wrote Falling for Your Best Friend. I’ve been WAITING to write their story. I can’t wait to get to each book!
You might also get some other Sheeters’ stories in this series. When I started planning this series, I had a pretty strict idea of where it would go, but even in this book, I was surprised by some things—and that is how I like it. My BEST writing often comes with the things I don’t expect and plan. So, buckle up, buttercups! We’ll see where this ride takes us.
One other character I’ve been planning for a LONG time: Chevy. I held an Instagram giveaway last year where the winners could choose a character name in the book. A Brooke and Her Book won and wanted to use her brother’s name. Her brother, Chevy, passed away in an accident ten years ago. I felt like Chevy needed to be a BIG part of a story to honor his memory. He’s one of my favorite side characters in this book, and I love his bromance with Pat.