Page 61 of Keeping Promises

If that wasn’t bad enough, I lean down just as the woman steps back, and her heel lands directly on my phone.

“Are you fucking kidding me,” I hiss.

She lifts her heel off my phone as I pick it up, turning it over to inspect any damage. Of course, the screen is black and the glass shattered. I let out a soft groan as I try to turn the phone on, and nothing.Just fucking great.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

I rise, ready to chew out whoever knocked into me when I meet familiar eyes.

“Zoe?” The urge to tear them a new one subsides when I realize it’s not a stranger.

“Asher!” she says enthusiastically. Okay, so she more so slurs after she adds a few additional syllables to my name.Woah, someone’s been having fun.Based on the glaze-over look in her eyes, I would say lots of fun.

“I am so sorry, by the way.” She points to the phone in my hand, whose screen now looks like the ice after the Stanley Cup’s last game; only a Zamboni is not going to be able to smooth this over.

“Yeah, well.” I glance down at it. Can’t go back in time to prevent it from happening. “I was due for an upgrade anyway.” It’s not exactly ideal, mostly since I can’t talk to Hadley now, but I try to reassure her to keep her from getting upset. I shove my phone in my pants pocket since there’s no use having it out with it not working.

“What are you doing here?” I’m surprised to see her here. Out of all the bars to run into her, I wouldn’t expect a hotel bar.

“It’s my roommate’s birthday.” She glances over her shoulder at the group of college-aged women behind her. “We’ve been barhopping all night and ended up here. You? Is Hadley here?” She searches around the room.

“No, it’s my brother’s bachelor party.” I nod in the direction of our table, where Ben and Cal are deep in conversation.

“Holy fucking hotness, Batman,” she says when she sees where I pointed. Her hand quickly flies to her mouth. “Oh my God, I am so sorry. That was so rude. Alcohol plus me equals absolutely zero filters.”

I can’t help but chuckle a little since this is completely the opposite of the Zoe I have met a few times at the salon. “How much alcohol have you had exactly?”

“Umm.” She taps her nose as if that would help her think. “I don’t know exactly. I lost count after shot number eleven, or was it twelve?” She shrugs and pinches her thumb and forefinger together. “Just a little bit.” She laughs, knowing that it’s been more than a little bit.

The bartender returns, placing my drink order in front of me. “I’m so sorry for the wait.”

“It’s no problem,” I assure her. I turn to Zoe. “Well, I should get back to my table with these.” I attempt to juggle the multiple glasses, beer bottles, and shots.Shit, I didn’t think this through.

“I really am sorry about your phone. Will you at least let me make it up to you by helping you carry your drinks to the table?”

I’m pretty sure it would be easier and less of a mess if I just did it.

“Please, it’ll save you multiple trips and people potentially stealing your drinks,” she pouts.

“Fine, sure. Grab those.” I indicate to the beer bottles.

I make sure she has them steadily in her hand before grabbing the other drinks.

“You know, I think you and Hadley really are great together. She’s so special; I love her,” she says behind me as we make our way through the crows with no issues.

“Yes, she is,” I respond as we approach the table.

“Jesus, Asher. I was beginning to think you went to another bar to get our drinks.” Cal smacks Ben’s arm, pulling him away from his phone as I set the drinks down on the table.

“Umm, Asher, who’s your friend,” Ben asks as both he and Cal give me a confused look, wondering what’s going on. Before Hadley, it would be no surprise for me to return from the bar with a random stranger ready to take home, but things are different now. I’m different now.

“Guys, this is Zoe.” I take the drinks from her. “She works at the salon with Hadley.”

“Oh,” they say in unison.Wow, did they think that this was something else? Way to have faith in me, assholes.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Zoe says. “I’ve seen your photos on Hadley’s station, but I have to say, your photos don’t do either of you justice.” Oh Lord, here we go. Zoe licks her lips, and I bring my fist to my mouth to hide my laughter.

“You remind me of a guy on one of the soap operas my mom used to watch,” she says to Ben before turning to Cal. “And you remind me of that guy fromGossip Girl.”

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