Page 16 of Alex

I mean, I don’t blame him. Kate is a babe and practically threw herself on him. I’d be lost for words, too.

She gives him a wink before ordering another round of shots.

He leaves us to celebrate by ourselves as more people ask for drinks and shots of their own.

I hold up my shot glass in front of my face. “Cheers to our friendship, you being back home, and to you turning-”

She clamps her hand over my mouth. “Shh. No one can know how old I am.”

I roll my eyes and remove her hand. “Oh my God, Kate. You’re acting like you’re turning sixty or seventy and not twenty-four.”

She giggles. “I’m older than you.”

“Barely, and it doesn’t matter. You’re young. You’re hot. And the best friend a girl could have.”

Her bottom lip sticks out as her eyes glaze over with unshed tears. “Aww, Elise, you are seriously the best. I hope you know how much I love you and our friendship.”

She gives me another tight hug and sways a little to the song playing over the chatter of the crowd. “I love this song.”

“Uh, huh. How much have you had to drink?”

“Only a couple more shots than you. I was bored while waiting for you, and Michael was keeping me company.”

That explains it. Those extra couple of shots were full shots, not our usual half whiskey half soda shots.

“Okay, well, how about one more half shot and then we stick to just soda for a while?”

The last thing I wanted to do tonight was babysit a drunk Kate, but I’m not going to leave her to the wolves. Well, more like the hungry desperate men that just want a one-night stand.

“That sounds perfect.” She spins around and locks eyes with Michael. “Another round for Elise and I please and then two regular sodas.”

He nods and gets our shots prepared before filling two glasses with ice and soda.

“Thanks Michael.” I say as he places the drinks in front of us and heads down the bar.

Kate and I drink our shots of whiskey before grabbing our sodas.

She leans against the bar as a group of guys pushes past us. “You know, I really hate your boss. I wish I could find you a better job with normal working hours and clear boundaries for personal time.”

“Yeah, I know.” I let out an awkward chuckle. “But I need this job, so I have to put up with the late evenings and long boring meetings until I no longer need to work, or until I die. Whichever one comes first.”

I can’t really talk shit about my boss while I am out in public. Anyone could hear and tell him what I said. Then, I wouldn’t have a job or money.

I take a sip of my drink as she continues. “I love a man in control. So powerful and demanding like your boss. I’d let him fuck me on his million dollar desk and tie me up with his expensive ties.”

The shock of her statement makes me choke on the soda I’m drinking. I place my hand on my chest as I cough and sputter, “Oh my God, Kate. Warn a girl, would you?”

She doesn’t look concerned over my choking. She just shrugs and says, “What? You don’t think your boss is hot? You wouldn’t let him treat you to an orgasm or two if he asked?”

No way. That’s crossing so many professional lines.

“Mr. Strickland is not my type. Alex is hotter in a wild and carefree way. I love his longer sun bleached hair and even the gauges he wears in his ears. He’s the complete opposite of his dad and the few times I’ve seen him, I’ve wanted to say more.”

Kate narrows her eyes as if she’s trying to figure me out like a puzzle. “If you like him and think he’s hot, then why haven’t you hooked up with him again?”

A soft sigh escapes my lips. “I’m tired of dealing with egotistical, asshole, control freak guys.”

“Just because your boss acts that way doesn’t mean his son is like that. Even if he turns out to be that way, you will at least have already been laid. Twice.”

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