Chapter 2 #2
She laughed, and it was soft but as fucking pretty as the rest of her. “Nothing that exciting since my life isn’t a corny drama.” Her smile faded just as fast as it’d formed, and even in the dimly lit stairwell, I could see her frown as she muttered, “Usually, at least.”
“What’s that mean?”
She ignored my question as her expression smoothed out. “Our moms are best friends, so we were destined to be besties, too.”
Built-in friends were better than the built-in ass-kissers I had, but I didn’t have the chance to share that before she opened the door. The real world rushed back around me, the sounds overwhelming and just as depressing as before I’d fled.
Or it would’ve been if not for Greer.
“There they are,” she said, touching my arm.
My gaze stayed stuck on where her soft skin connected with mine.
When she took her hand away to point, my heart broke a little, but I lifted my focus to look at where she gestured.
Easton sat on a barstool next to a high-top with Maddie standing between his legs.
It wasn’t as intimate as when she was sitting at his feet in Gilded, but it was as close as they could get on that side of the building.
As we approached, I realized they weren’t just chatting in a close hold. Maddie had her phone out and was furiously tapping the screen in between scans of the crowds.
Greer must’ve noticed at the same time I did because her pace picked up.
Which meant mine did, too.
Maddie’s blue eyes landed on Greer first, her shoulders slumping in relief. The same eyes widened when she looked over to see me tailing her friend. She moved her focus back to Greer. “I thought you left.”
“I stepped out to get some fresh air,” Greer said, not throwing me under the bus—or off the roof. “You seemed to be otherwise occupied.”
Maddie gave an apologetic smile that contradicted her unapologetic shrug. She leaned back into Easton, but her gaze darted between Greer and me. “I see the birthday boy extracted himself from his adoring entourage long enough for you two to meet.”
That emptiness didn’t have time to seep through me before Greer subtly reached back and touched my arm again.
“I did. Him and his camera.” She smiled at me over her shoulder. “But he’s going to delete those pictures.”
No way in hell.
“Maybe after you have a drink with me,” I said instead.
A nearby server heard my words and abandoned gathering empty glasses to rush over. He zeroed in on me. “What can I get you?”
I gestured to the others to go first.
Easton ordered, starting with Maddie’s ridiculous drink as usual. “Dirty Shirley with an orange slice and cherries, bourbon neat, and a tequila and club soda with a lime.”
I was guessing the last one was for Greer, and there was an irrational twist of jealousy in my gut. Like I should’ve magically known what she liked so I could be the one to order it for her.
Belatedly realizing the server was still waiting, I said, “Water.”
“Still, sparkling—”
“Tap is fine.”
He rushed off with the same urgency he’d approached, and Greer and Maddie began talking. I fought back a yawn and fought harder to follow along with their rapid-fire convo. The easy flow of it clearly stemmed from being lifelong friends, but it was impossible to track in my state.
I should’ve ordered a coffee to sober the fuck up.
“You good?”
I dragged my eyes away from the women to see that Easton was studying me with a mix of concern and alertness.
It was a look I was familiar with.
“Yeah, why?”
“Water?”
His confusion made sense. The only time I drank water at a bar was when he was forcing it on me.
I lifted a shoulder. “The night is young. Pacing myself.”
“Something you’re known for.”
I gestured around us—and nearly smacked a hovering woman.
That would make for an interesting news cycle.
Pulling my arm closer to avoid any risk of accidental violence and drama, I pointed out, “I’m thirty-three now. An old man. You must remember from when you turned thirty-three… a decade or two ago.”
Easton was only four years older than me—though fifteen years older than Maddie—but he carried himself with a stoic maturity that set us apart.
Usually.
That maturity was nowhere to be seen when he flipped me off before turning his scowl down at his laughing woman. “Something funny, Madeline?”
She bit her bottom lip, but it did nothing to hide her grin.
Lucky for her, she was saved by the server’s reappearance. He distributed the drinks and disappeared back into the crush.
Greer took a sip of hers before setting it onto the high-top to pull out her phone. “I’m ordering my rideshare now because otherwise this last drink will turn into three.”
“Vic will drive you home,” Easton said before I could offer up my own driver.
Not that I wanted her to leave, but I sure as hell didn’t want her leaving in a stranger’s car.
She tried to wave him away but must’ve known he wasn’t going to back down. “If you’re both sure.”
Maddie just nodded, so I voiced outrage on her behalf.
And, fuck it, on my behalf, too.
“You can’t leave yet. I still haven’t cut the cake.”
She smiled up at me. “Don’t worry, Maddie will text me the flavor to solve that mystery.”
“But it’s not even midnight.”
Her smile shrank, and regret kicked my ass.
I was coming on too strong.
The fact I wasn’t down on my knees, pleading with her to run away with me made me feel like I was playing it pretty damn cool, but clearly, I was still fucking it up.
Her somber reaction must not have been about me because she gave an explanation she didn’t owe. “I have an early morning.”
“And you’re going to kill it, so stop stressing,” Maddie said.
“I’m not stressing.”
“Liar. You keep untucking and retucking your hair behind your ears. You do that when you’re stressed.”
“It’s annoying how well you know me,” Greer said with a sigh.
“Liar again. You love it.”
“Damn it, you’re right on both.”
“Greer has a job interview,” Maddie staged whispered to me before I had to ask.
An audition would’ve made more sense since she looked like she belonged on a set, a runway, or in a studio.
I looked at the beautiful siren—and willed the room to stop spinning so I could actually see her. “For what?”
“Just an office thing,” she said dismissively.
Maddie made a disgruntled noise into her drink before pulling it away. “She’ll be running an investment firm.”
Greer rolled her eyes, and I was glad to see her annoyance wasn’t reserved for me. “I would be an office assistant. Technically, I’d be an assistant to someone else’s assistant. A part-time one at that.”
“For now. But once you work your label-maker magic, they’ll offer you the world to keep you there.”
“I wish I shared your optimism.”
“I need an assistant,” I blurted out.
“Tripp, you…” Easton started before sitting back and flicking his hand forward. “You know what? Never mind. Continue.”
Maddie didn’t share the same restraint. “You already have an assistant.”
She isn’t wrong.
I scanned across the crowded bar until I spotted said assistant at a table with a group of people. “Alex!”
I knew the fucker had to have heard me. Everyone else in the area froze at my loud shout.
But he continued talking to the blonde next to him.
“Alex!” I yelled again.
He probably would’ve kept ignoring me, but the woman pointed to me.
I waited until I had his attention before I said, “You’re fired.”
There. Now Maddie is wrong.
That got him moving. He was up and out of his seat so fast, it was a wonder he didn’t leave a smoke outline in his wake.
He comically scrambled through the crowd.
“What do you need, boss? Some food?” His eager gaze darted around before landing on my glass of water.
“A drink?” He didn’t wait for my answer before snapping at a nearby server. “Mr. Carter needs a whiskey soda. Now.”
“I’m good,” I told the server with a smile. I let it drop when I looked back at him. “You’re still fired.”
“But—”
“I’ll give you a glowing recommendation.”
“I don’t want—”
“And a hefty severance package.”
He clenched his jaw before forcing patience. “Tripp, you don’t mean this.”
“A severance package I’m now regretting offering since it reminded me of a certain hugely popular TV show. The one I missed a role on because you’re shit at your job.”
“You’re fucked up, man. Think this through when you’re sober.”
“Definitely regretting the generous offer. Let me consult with my legal counsel.” I looked at Easton. “Did that count as legally binding?”
“No acceptance, no handshake, no verbal contract,” Easton said, fighting to hide his amusement.
He barely finished his sentence before Alex clutched my hand and forced a shake. “Fine. I’ll take it. Not that it matters. You’re going to regret this.”
“What was that?” Cohen asked. I hadn’t even seen him approach, but he stood close as he gestured to the side.
Alex scowled and shook his head. “No, not like that. I mean… It’s… There’s a reason he can’t keep a damn assistant.”
He had a point.
I was a pain in the ass.
I also had bad taste in assistants.
Siren will be different.
Unless this is all a fucked-up dream, and I’m in a coma after falling off the roof.
Why else would the room be warping in and out of focus?
Security wasn’t fazed by the fact the bar resembled distorted funhouse mirrors.
They navigated the twisty room in an instant, and Alex raised his hands.
His expression was tight, but he was good at saying the right thing—the only reason he’d lasted so long.
“I’ll be waiting for your call when you sober up. ”
“And I’ll send over your shit from my house,” I said.
“With a copy of the NDA you signed in case you feel the need to refresh your memory,” Easton tossed in.
It’s good to be friends with my lawyer.