A Night of Desire

Linden Jennings’s gaze shifted from Poppy Vance to him. "Who are you looking at?"

As he spoke, his eyes started to follow River Sterling’s gaze.

River Sterling immediately tore his gaze away from Rhys Ryston. His eyes flickered past Clara Grant and Poppy Vance before landing nervously on Holly Summers.

Before Linden Jennings could follow his gaze, Chase Childs spoke up calmly from the side. "She’s already into someone."

"You?" River Sterling asked, turning to look at him.

"...No!" ’If only it were me.’

"Then what was the point of saying that!"

"I’m just giving you a heads-up. Even if you like her, nothing will come of it." Though the words seemed aimed at River Sterling, it was as if he were really talking to himself.

’Holly Summers likes President Quinn. The gap between him—Chase Childs—and President Quinn is massive. Even if I like her this much, she would never be with me, right?’

River Sterling scoffed dismissively. Seth Quinn, however, looked at Chase Childs in confusion. "How do you know she likes someone? Did she tell you?"

’I remember now. To create opportunities for Chase Childs and Holly Summers to meet, Clara always made Chase drive me whenever I went to see her.’

’So, Chase still hasn’t managed to win Holly over? And now Holly has a crush on someone else?’

Seth Quinn couldn’t help but feel it was a shame. ’This Chase Childs is a hopeless case! All of Clara’s efforts have gone to waste!’

Chase Childs shook his head. "She didn’t tell me, but I just know."

"What fucking good does that do! She hasn’t said anything, so how could you possibly know who she likes? Chase, you like her, don’t you?" River Sterling couldn’t resist telling him what to do. "Then go ask her. You have to be bold and just ask! Maybe you’re the one she likes."

’Ask her?’ Chase Childs seemed to freeze. He’d never even considered it. He didn’t want to ask, and he didn’t dare to.

He didn’t want to because he didn’t want to put Holly Summers in an awkward position. He didn’t dare to because he was afraid of hearing an answer he couldn’t bear.

A knowing smile suddenly appeared on Linden Jennings’s face. "So, River, you’re not actually interested in Holly Summers. It’s someone else, isn’t it?"

"O-Of course it’s her! Who else could it be? Is there another woman here worth fantasizing about? One is Seth’s girl, one is your girl, and the other one..." To make his story more believable, River Sterling shot a disdainful look at Rhys Ryston and curled his lip. "A boring old prude. I’m even less interested in her."

Linden Jennings was noncommittal, just smiling and shaking his head. ’Like hell anyone would believe that. If he really liked Holly Summers, would he be giving Chase advice without a second thought?’

...

Since Poppy Vance was pregnant and couldn’t stay up late, the group didn’t hang out for much longer before Linden Jennings suggested he take Poppy home.

With someone making a move to leave, Rhys Ryston took the opportunity to say she was heading back as well.

Clara Grant, the other, secret pregnant woman, was also getting tired and said she had to leave too. At that, Seth Quinn waved his hand magnanimously. "Alright, let’s all call it a night."

At the entrance of The Tuberose, Linden Jennings and Poppy Vance left first. Rhys Ryston said her goodbyes to Clara Grant. "Clara, I’m going to head out too."

As she finished speaking, she started toward the curb to hail a cab, but Clara Grant called out to her. "Ryston, you should have Brother Sterling drive you home. It’s not safe for a girl to take a cab alone at night."

River Sterling had been wracking his brain for a chance to offer her a ride, so when he overheard Clara Grant, a smile spread across his face. He tossed his car keys in his hand and had just started down the steps when he heard Rhys Ryston’s rejection.

"There’s no need! We’re not going the same way!"