Page 51 of The Savior

Her cheeks heated. “This is absurd—”

“Chelsea, you smell like booze.”

She couldn’t find the words. The explanation was simple enough. The previous night, one single, solitary night, she’d hit a happy hour and drunk too much. But a couple shots and beer were hardly a problem that required her boss to show up.

“Sir,” she tried, swallowing over the sudden dry mouth and pounding headache. “Last night, I went out with a friend. Maybe we hit the liquor harder than usual—”

Calhoun’s forehead pinched.

“Considering I don’t drink often,” she amended. “Harder as compared to not usually.”

“Just a regular Thursday night except for with liquor,” he summarized. “Go see Dr. Casper.”

Incredulous, she felt her jaw drop. “Because I went out last night?”Is this a double standard?She couldn’t count how many times the men in her office had gone out for drinks for no reason or because some sports team was on television, just as they were every week.

“Because I said so.”

His reasoning wasn’t flawed. It was nonexistent. “Sir, this isn’t necessary.”

“Consider it a requirement.” Calhoun dropped his chin as if to declare the conversation over then added, “And go home.”

She blanched, and he gave a curt nod.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Go home, Kilpatrick. Make an appointment with Dr. Casper next week.” He turned to leave but stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He gave her a once-over assessment. “Take some time off, and I’ll check in with you in a couple weeks.”

The door opened and closed, and Calhoun was gone. Exasperated, Chelsea grabbed her phone, knowing the last person she should call was Mac, and scrolled for Julia. But reality hit. Julia would never answer again. That had been a mistake she’d made a few times over the last year, and Chelsea let the phone slip from her hand. Tears burned at the back of her throat, and even though she was alone, she refused to let them slide free.

Her phone buzzed with a text message. The screen faced up. Liam’s name showed on the notification. Chelsea took a deep breath, understanding his bad day more than she had the day before, and picked up her phone.

LIAM:I thanked you for last night. But I didn’t for breakfast.

Her phone buzzed again with a second text.

LIAM:Thanks.

A small grin curled on her face despite what had transpired in her office. She didn’t want him to make her smile, especially not when she’d been upset and ready to call her best friend. Yet she really,reallydid.

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