Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I LOVE LA AT NIGHT. There’s something magical about driving through the city while being eclipsed by towering skyscrapers.
Like we’re in little Matchbox cars. As much as some people might complain about the smells, car exhaust mixed with damp asphalt always gives me a thrill.
It takes me back to waiting in lines to get into clubs with Millie.
To leaving a Laker game at eleven PM and hitting up a taco truck.
To warm summer nights on rooftop bars, perched high above the chaos below.
We finally reach Il Regalo, and as I pull up to the curb, a valet hands me a ticket. Another attendant opens Alex’s door.
When we enter the swanky restaurant, Alex’s hand slides along my waist, his fingers dipping under the hem of my shirt. “Fuck, your skin is soft.” I shiver against him, and he pulls me in closer, nuzzling my neck. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
His admission makes my whole body stir. It’s like his impulse control is gone, and every pent-up thought he has is bubbling to the surface. And, god, all I want him to do is pin me up against the nearest wall like he did after his presentation.
As we reach the reception desk, the ma?tre d’ eyes me warily, and I cross my arms over my chest. But there’s no use hiding the fact that I’m wearing a T-shirt and jeans while everyone else is dressed to the nines.
“She’s with us,” Carol says, shaking hands with the snooty man. I’m sure she just slipped him some cash.
“Here, take this.” Monica shrugs out of her gray blazer and hands it to me.
“Wow, really?” A rush of warmth envelops me. “Thank you.” Gratefully, I slip it on and shoot the ma?tre d’ a gloating smirk.
“Very well,” he says, gesturing for us to follow the hostess. We walk through the restaurant, the quiet hum of chatter and silverware clanking against fine china filling the dim dining room. The hostess stops in front of a large round table with six menus already in position.
Alex pulls out my chair—albeit a bit awkwardly—and Carol and Monica sit on either side of us. The tall man with the bushy white beard settles in across from Alex, then hands the sixth menu back to the hostess. “John won’t be able to make it.”
“That’s a shame,” Monica says, reaching for the bread basket. She passes it to Alex and he grabs a dinner roll. He’s about to hand it off to me, but snags a second and plops it on his plate.
“June,” Carol starts, gesturing to the bearded man. I try to focus, but Alex is inhaling the bread next to me. “This is Dr. Mark Leonard.”
I smile, attempting to block out Alex. He’s already scarfing down the next roll. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Leonard.”
He waves a hand. “Mark is fine.” He turns his attention back to Alex, who has plucked the ciabatta bread off my plate. “And you, sir. Good work tonight.” He chuckles. “Someone’s hungry.”
“Sorry,” Alex says around a massive bite, specks of crumbs sprinkling out of his mouth.
Mark laughs it off, but Monica’s eyes narrow in suspicion.
“Don’t apologize. You made it look good.” A wide grin lifts Mark’s ample cheeks as he reaches into the basket, selecting a piece of focaccia. He adds a smear of sundried tomato butter, then says, “I spoke to Dr. Jennings after you finished. He was …”
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I dig it out as fast as I can, tuning out the conversation around me. Mom might have an update on Gram.
But when I see the name on the screen, I fumble the phone.
Missed call: Gram
“Will you excuse me?” I say to the table, not bothering to wait for an answer. I don’t think anyone even noticed. Mark is completely engrossed with Alex.
I hit Call before I reach the lobby, but it rings once and goes to voice mail. I duck into the alcove that houses the restrooms and spend the next minute rambling about how grateful I am that she’s okay, telling her that she can call me anytime, day or night, and that I love her.
Thirty seconds later, a text comes through.
Gram: Did you take my candy?
I huff. Glad she has her priorities straight.
June: Sorry, Gram. I got really worried about your blood sugar.
Gram: Don’t eat the gummy worms.
I bite my lip. It’s a bit late for that.
June: I’ll get you some new ones.
Gram: No, they’re edible.
I roll my eyes. I know they’re edible. That’s why—
Oh, god.
Not edible.
Edibles.
My fingers quiver as I type the question. Not that I need her to confirm—I already know.
June: Gram, are you saying those were THC gummies?
Three dots dance on the screen while Gram takes an eternity to respond.
Gram: I don’t know what THC is but the gummy worms have marijuana in them. Someone from Golden Sun got a big jar and passed them out to all the residents.
Gram: I mean, not out of the goodness of her heart. We had to pay for them.
No.
No, no, no.
My breath pitters out, and I lean my head against the wall. Everything suddenly makes sense. The excessive water intake. His body overheating. His unbelievable candor.
That kiss. I bring my fingers to my lips.
Oh, god. He was high when he kissed me.
I need to tell him.
I’m about to head back to the table when loud moaning comes through the wall. A cold sweat breaks over me. I can’t see into the men’s room, but I just know.
It’s Alex.
“Oh, god, yes.” A voice thick with lust drifts past the alcove and into the foyer of the restaurant. A few heads turn my way.
The bathroom door swings open, and a guy charges out, still zipping up his fly. With the door open, the sounds are even louder.
Oh, god. Is Alex … going old school? In a public bathroom?
I take a quick peek over my shoulder, and when the coast is clear, I slip into the men’s room.
Alex is at a urinal with his head thrown back, taking the loudest piss known to man. Not illegal. With a relieved breath, I turn on my heel and face the door to give him some privacy.
“Fuck, I had to pee so bad,” he announces to the room.
Of course he did; he drank an entire half-gallon of water.
The whizz of a zipper followed by a flush tells me it’s safe to turn around, and Alex heads to the sink. He washes his hands and glances in the mirror as he grabs a paper towel. Then he does a double-take.
“June?” He scans the walls, terror written all over his face. “Oh my god, am I in the ladies’ room?” He stares back at the row of urinals. “Wait, you guys have these, too?” His features scrunch in confusion. “How do you use them?”
“This is the men’s room,” I assure him.
His shoulders sag with relief. But then his brow furrows again. “Why are you in the men’s room?” A devilish smirk quirks up. “Are you here to pick up where we left off?” He reaches for me, but I intercept his hand, holding it between us.
A lump lodges in my throat. I hate that I’m about to ruin his night. “We need to talk.”
“Oh.” He retracts his hand, his entire body deflating. “I knew this was too good to be true.” He walks back to the row of sinks, bracing his hands on the counter.
Oh my god. He actually thinks I’m rejecting him.
Pitifully, he glances up, looking at himself in the mirror. “You knew she was too good for you.”
Is he saying what I think he is? That I’m too good for him? He can’t possibly think that.
I step up behind him. “Alex, no—”
“What the fuck …” he says under his breath, his forehead creasing as he squints at his reflection.
He leans closer, prying his eyelids open, first the left, then the right.
The once vibrant whites of his eyes are now glassy and bloodshot.
His pupils are enlarged, but not alarmingly so. I just thought he was really turned on.
He jerks his head around. “Why do I look like I smoked a bowl?”
“Um …” Shit, I can’t say it.
“June,” he barks, and my shoulders slump.
“The gummy worms.”
Horror contorts his features, and he mutters something under his breath I can’t make out.
Then he turns back to the sink and splashes water on his face.
“Fuck.” He tears a paper towel from the dispenser and blots his forehead, his cheeks.
“This is bad, June. My boss is out there. Her boss is out there. And I’m high as fuck.
” He wrings his hands through his hair. “Do you know anything about dosing? They probably say to eat half of one of those worms. And I ate three whole ones.” He throws his hands up.
All I can do is wince. “I know. I’m sorry. I had no idea. My grandma just told me.”
He shakes his head, muttering the same unintelligible thing again through gritted teeth. E-bid? What does e-bid mean? But then his face softens. “What am I going to do?” He stares at me, eyes pleading.
Guilt gnaws at my stomach like it’s infested with termites. He wouldn’t be in this mess if not for me. First I failed Gram, and now Alex. I’m on a roll today.
“We’re going to get through it,” I say, trying to reassure both of us. “I’ll make up some excuse, and we can head home.”
“No, we have to stay.” He begins pacing parallel to the row of sinks. “This is my fucking career, June.”
“It’s going to be okay.” I attempt to rub his shoulder, but he shrugs me off, making my heart stutter.
“I don’t see how. This job is everything to me.” He strides past me and pushes the door open, nothing but betrayal in his eyes.
Fuck.
But I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I have to fix this. I scurry out, then stop in my tracks as I come face-to-face with Monica.
To my right, Alex is frozen, braced against the wall of the alcove, eyes wide, jaw hanging.
“Alex?” I look from him to Monica and back again.
“Shhh,” he hisses without moving a muscle.
Monica rolls her eyes. “Alex, I can see you.”
A swallow works down his throat, but the rest of his body remains perfectly still.
She crosses her arms, stepping closer to him. “And I know you’re high as a fucking kite.”
His eyes slam shut as he winces.
“What I don’t understand,” she seethes, “is why you chose to get high the night of this presentation.”
“It’s my fault,” I blurt out.
Monica glowers at me. “You?”
“It was an accident,” I offer, praying that Monica can be reasoned with.
“My grandma was admitted to the hospital for a diabetic coma, and Alex stayed with me all day. I took her candy so she wouldn’t have any more sugar, and Alex was starving before the presentation, so I gave him some of the candy bars.
I didn’t know the gummy worms were edibles. ”
Monica’s lips tighten, like she’s mulling it over. But then a laugh pitters out of her. “Gummy worms, Alex? Really?”
He covers his face with his hands. “Trust me, I’ll never eat one again.” Then he leans down, whispering something to her. I swear I hear the word e-bid again. Is he talking about some kind of online gambling?
She scoffs. “Well, that explains it.”
I give them a curious look, but something tells me not to ask.
“All right, Doctor Cardoso …” Monica shakes her head, leveling him with a glare. “Since it’s clear this was unintentional, I’ll cover for you with Mark.”
Alex’s entire body wobbles like Jell-O. “Really?”
“Yes. I’ll let them know that June’s grandmother is in the hospital and that you left to go see her.”
He leans down, wrapping her in a hug.
“Uh-uh, get your sweaty ass off me.”
“Right, sorry.”
“And you,” she says to me. “Get him home. He needs water and sleep.”
I nod, already shuffling Alex toward the door. One thing is certain: It’s going to be a long night.