Page 17 of For Your Consideration

Noah leaned over and gave me a placating pat on the shoulder. “I know, big guy, but I like forcing you to give me compliments.”

“You don’t need a bigger head,” I muttered, getting a laugh from Noah.

“Are we done here? I’ve gotta run and grab Quinn from the house,” Knight said as he looked blankly between me and Noah.

“Can you believe our former grump is getting engaged?” Noah said as we both stood up.

I nodded. “Happy for you guys.”

“Yet just over a year ago you were giving me shit about Quinn.” Knight shook his head, glaring at me. His glares still had heat to them when Quinn wasn’t in the room. “Don’t let it touch the business.” He was clearly trying to mimic me as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Noah started clapping. “Impeccable impersonation.”

I sent my own glare back at both of them, which pulled a smirk out of Knight. We all started heading out of the conference room toward our offices. Knight smacked me on the back as I fell into step beside him.

“Why is everyone touching me today?”

“Thanks for watching Thor while we’re gone. Quinn left you food in the fridge.”

“Why?” I frowned.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Take it up with her.” He knew I wouldn’t. Because then she’d go on a rant about how I needed to let people take care of me or some other sappy shit and then she might get misty-eyed, and I didn’t deal well with tears.

“Hopefully she says yes,” Noah called down the hall, earning him a finger from Knight as he went toward the elevator.

“You’re a shit disturber,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“I know,” Noah said proudly.

I closed the door to my office and settled in my chair with a sigh. I needed to get some work done so I could head out at a decent time. Quinn had texted me multiple times that she would love it if I was at their place no later than five so I could get Thor out before his dinner. She didn’t want him to feel abandoned. That dog got more love and attention than most—he would have been fine. He was kennel trained and she’d been home all day. But again, I wouldn’t go up against Quinn. None of us really did.

I walked through their front door at 4:55 p.m. and sent a text to Quinn so she could stop thinking about it and focus on her trip.

After Thor and I ran for an hour, we went back to the house. He ate his dinner with extreme enthusiasm before passing out at my feet while I worked at the kitchen table for another hour before deciding to call it a night. Owning our business meant that we had a lot of freedom, but it also meant that the work never stopped, so sometimes it was hard to disconnect. But I liked having something to focus on.

Stretching as I stood up from the table, Thor lifted his ears, eyes on me to see what I was going to do next. I grabbed a whiskey and then Thor and I went outside. I leaned against the railing as I watched him explore the yard, his nose down, almost doing a perimeter sweep.

Knight had owned this house for a couple of years and I wasn’t surprised that when he and Quinn started falling in love, he began spending more time here. It was a tribute to his mum.

At first I couldn’t imagine wanting a house. I liked my penthouse apartment. It was walking distance from the office and more than enough room for me. Living in an abusive household where I had no control had engrained this need to have control over my space.

Knight had paid someone to clean his penthouse both here and back when we lived in London but I didn’t. I liked cleaning it myself. It was something no one could take from me. Plus, I didn’t like the idea of a stranger having access to my space.

But now that the guys and I spent a lot of time here, I’d grown to love the neighborhood, the space, the quiet, seeing the stars at night since the city’s light pollution was almost nonexistent out here. The space behind the house was a nature reserve and no one would ever be able to develop on the land.

I had noticed another house on this block had a “for sale” sign up on my run today. I was starting to think it was time to find my own peace.

I finished my drink, took a big breath of fresh air, and then let out a whistle. Thor tore to my side. “Let’s head in.” I gave him a scratch behind his ear, his tongue lolling, before we went in to call it a night.

7

Sutton

As I spat my toothpaste into the sink and turned off the tap, there was a knock at my door. I grabbed Sophie out of the playpen in my room, letting her pull on my hair as she babbled away happily.

Our routine had settled, and I think she could tell that I was happier. Life wasn’t so hard when you only had one job, earned good money, came home every day at a reasonable hour, had weekends off, and felt like you weren’t failing at everything.

Today Sophie was wearing the new navy onesie with white polka dots that I was able to buy her the other day, and she looked damn adorable. I didn’t even panic when I saw the price. I thought it was cute, and grabbed it.