Page 312 of Don’t Say Mafia

Cruz’s eyes slid to me knowingly. “Of course you do.”

Maddox smirked. “Oh, Eden’s out there. I should go meet her.”

Cruz clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s a great idea, Maddox. I met her before this, and I think I need to make a better impression. I was a little distracted.”

“Absolutely not,” I threw over my shoulder as I pushed through the staff door and came to a screeching halt.

Why exactly was I hearing Lawson’s laughter?

I rounded the corner and stopped dead.

Lawson was sprawled in one of the velvet chairs, looking like he’d just returned from Hawaii in board shorts and a thin white V-neck. Eden sat beside him, her cheeks flushed and eyes glassy, a half-empty champagne flute dangling from her fingers.

Apparently, she hadn’t heard anything suspicious.

Lawson lifted his glass lazily when he saw me. “To Jagger,” he toasted, grinning.

Eden blinked up at me like I was slightly out of focus. “You were gone forever,” she accused softly. “But your friend is so much fun!”

My jaw tightened. “Lawson . . . what exactly are you doing here?”

Lawson took a long sip, still watching me over the rim. “Cruz said we were having a party. So here I am.”

I growled. These motherfuckers were literally the biggest cockblockers in the world.

Eden’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh,” she whispered. “He’s doing the caveman thing.”

Eden had changed into a fitted blue dress Claudia must’ve talked her into—something light and dangerously flattering that skimmed her curves and made her look sweet instead of sinful.

It did not help my mood.

Cruz took one look at her—flushed cheeks, glossy eyes, champagne in hand—and then at me.

“Well,” he said, slinging an arm around my shoulders before I could evade him, “I guess it’s time.”

I went still. “Time for what?”

He grinned. “To officially welcome your girlfriend to the family.”

Eden froze. “His what?” she demanded, pointing at her own chest like she needed confirmation.

“Girlfriend,” Lawson supplied helpfully.

Her head snapped toward me so fast she almost lost her balance. “I am not—” She straightened, her dignity wobbling but intact. “That’s not what this is.”

I was suddenly warming up to this conversation. “Fair point. We might’ve skipped a meeting about labels, but we can fix that now if you’d like.”

Eden’s eyes widened, and I cupped the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss before she could spiral into another argument. When I pulled back, she was breathing hard. “You can object to the label,” I murmured. “You don’t get to object to the reality.”

Her lips parted. Then she muttered, “We’re revisiting this when I’m sober.”

Behind us, Lawson lifted his glass again. “To the nongirlfriend.”

I shot him a look.

He grinned wider. “Now, let’s go party.”

CHAPTER 28