𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃 | ᴀ ᴅʀᴀᴍɪᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ

Chapter 10

MY FATHER WAS NOT PLEASED with how I handled the Riddle situation. I'd been rash, unprofessional, blah, blah, blah. And because of my seniority, he held me more accountable for losing the client than Hermione.

But the fact that I was on the shit list at the office for a while didn't hit me as hard you'd think. Mostly because I have no regrets over how I'd reacted. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. So, maybe my father was disappointed in me, but to tell you the truth, by the time he got done reaming me out, I was pretty fucking disappointed in him too.

Also, in the four weeks following that disastrous meeting, things between Hermione and I have continued to evolve. We still trade punches at work, but they're more jabs to the chest, meant to sting, rather than right hooks to the jaw, designed to knock each other on our respective asses. We share ideas, help each other out. My father was right about that, at least. Hermione and I complement each other, balance each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Somewhere along the line, she's become more to me than just a set of legs I want to crawl between. More than a pair of pants I desperately want to get down.

Now she's Hermione—a friend. A friend who causes my dick to stand at attention every time she walks into the room, but that's my cross to bear, I guess. Because as much as I still want her, and as sure as I am a part of her wants me, Hermione is just not the cheating kind.

At least not the kind who could live with herself afterward.

Now, I know what you're thinking: But what happened? How did a self-assured, handsome, wickedly charming young man like myself become the flu-infected, sloppy shut-in you first met?

We're getting there—trust me.

To show you the whole picture, there are a few more players you need to meet in the shit-pit soap opera that is now my life. You've seen Dirtbag Weasel. He'll be back later, unfortunately.

And now you'll meet Ginny Weasley. She's the jackass's cousin. But you shouldn't hold that against her. She's also Hermione's best friend. I'll show you.

"I saw you talking to the brunette with the nice rack. You go back to her place?" Harry asks me. He, Theo, and I are having lunch at a diner a few blocks from the office. We're discussing our most recent Saturday night.

"We didn't make it that far."

"What do you mean?"

I smirk, remembering what an exhibitionist the girl had been. "I mean that cab will never be the same again. And I think we scarred the driver for life."

Theo laughs. "You're such a fucking dog, man."

"Nah, I saved doggie-style for when we were actually inside her apartment."

Don't give me that look again. We've been over this.

Guys. Sex. Talk.

Besides, despite the wild eagerness of Taxi Girl, the sex was sub-par. She wasn't even Colgate. She was more like some generic brand of toothpaste they stock in low-grade hotel rooms whose name you can't even remember after you brush with it.

"Hey, Mione," Harry says, looking behind me. I didn't see her approach us.

We'll stop here for just a moment. This is important.

See the look on her face? The thin line of her lips? The slight wrinkle of her brow? She heard what I said. And she doesn't look too happy about it, does she? I missed this the first time around, but you should make a note of it. This moment will come back to bite me in the ass later on.