Invisible Leash by M H B

Author:M H B
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Myriam Brunet
Published: 2018-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

27

JACOB

That same Friday night, after a hellish day at work, I had my driver go straight to Derrick’s place.

“You’re sure you don’t mind driving around?” I asked him when he pulled up in front of our destination.

“Nah, not at all,” Shane said. “Game’s on the radio, and it’s a beautiful night besides.”

“It is,” I agreed, then headed up the front walk to Derrick’s expensive house. Derrick himself answered the door.

“Good to see you,” I said.

“You too, Jake. You look like hell,” he added as he accepted the bottle of wine I handed him.

“I feel like it, too. Where’s Ellie?”

“She went to pick up Sage,” Derrick said. “Don’t worry—they’re meeting in the underground parking.”

I knew better than most people how much the press were watching her lately. Hounding her.

Derrick led me through the kitchen and set the bottle of pinot on the Italian marble countertop. “Want a cold one? I’m just about to fire up the barbie.”

“Sure, sure.”

He led me through the patio doors and grabbed two beers from a cooler. “Have a seat,” he said, tossing me one. “Take a load off.”

I sank into a cushioned lounge chair. “Thanks. After the day I’ve had, I need it.”

Derrick turned on the barbecue and then stretched out in the chair next to mine. “You talking about that Ebola vaccine scandal?” he asked, cracking open his can.

I groaned. “So you heard about that?”

“Hard not to. Sounds like a real fuck-up.”

I nodded.

We spent the next few minutes chatting about the warm end of August weather, the election, and the construction between Derrick’s place and the city.

“So, is she worth it?” he asked after a while.

“Who?” I said, though I knew full well who he was talking about.

“Sage. Is she worth all the hassle?”

I turned my head to face him. “Yes, Derrick, she’s worth it,” I replied firmly, turning the beer can in my hands. “More than worth it,” I added, unable to hide my grin.

He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’ve never seen you like this, man.” He shook his head in disbelief and took another sip of his beer.

“Me, neither,” I chuckled.

Derrick stood up and opened the lid of the grill. “Well, cheers . . . to a new Jaky,” he teased.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I wasn’t new. I was just, improved. Regardless, I clinked my beer can against his, muttering “fucker” under my breath.

A few minutes later, after Derrick had loaded up the grill with what seemed to be an endless number of T-bone steaks, we heard the front door slam.

“We’re here!” Ellie yelled.

No shit.

A moment later, Ellie and Sage appeared in the patio doorway. Ellie went straight over to Derrick and gave him a hug, but Sage hung back shyly in the doorway. She was wearing a long dress that was made of some gauzy material so thin I could almost describe her nipples.

I felt my face being taken over by a dopey smile at the sight of her.

She winked.

After Ellie pulled Derrick inside to get some things for the table, I got up and crossed the patio to Sage.

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