Page 4 of Fly Back to Me
Chapter 2
Olivia
“It’s like I’m Samantha Jones fromSex and the City,” I joke, nestling the stem of my martini glass between my fingers.
We’re nearing the end of September, and as always, our accounting responsibilities have spun into overdrive at the end of the month. The only way to gain some of our sanity back? Grab drinks at the new cocktail lounge in Newbridge Village—Whispers & Whiskey.
“I’ve actually never watched that show,” Emma admits before tasting her vodka soda.
I turn in my leather seat to face her, suspending my free palm over the ambient lamp. “Even Alex has seen an episode. This is like a crime against women.”
Her brown eyes roll while her red-tipped fingers fiddle with the cocktail straw. “You’re so damn dramatic.”
“Yes, and you two should be thanking me for always gracing you with entertainment.” I flick a finger between her and Alex,sipping my Cosmo.
A soft chuckle tumbles from Emma. “Speaking of entertainment, I’m not gossiping, but…”
I abruptly plant my drink on the marble tabletop, slapping my palms together as I lick the tartness off my lips. “Hell yes. This is why I came out tonight.”
Emma’s hand greets my arm, her head shaking through a silent laugh.
My eyes meet Alex’s through his hipster glasses, and I shrug a shoulder. “I mean, obviously I wanted to spend time with you two. But exchanging gossip was the original reason, if I’m being totally honest here,” I confess.
“Okay,” Emma interjects, her fingers tucking her dark hair behind her ear. “Rumor has it that Lisa and David were making out in the break room. Maybe even getting a littlehandsy.”
“Oh my god!” I exclaim, a frustrated gasp falling from my lips. “So, the rest of us are just sitting in our cubicles keeping track of boring inventory in our QuickBooks software, while Lisa and David are getting their rocks off? What the fuck?”
Emma flips her straight locks to one side, murmuring on the straw of her drink. “Pretty much.”
I huff out a breath, slumping into my cushioned seat. “Ugh, I’m so jealous.”
Alex leans his forearms on the table, his three-quarter sleeve button down stretching with the motion. “I mean, kudos to David, but damn.”
“Don’t even. Lisa thinks she’s God’s gift,” I challenge, planting a palm on the ribbed fabric over my chest. “I don’t care for it, that’s all I’m saying.”
“You can be attracted to someone and not like their personality,” he counters.
I purse my lips, angling my chin to the coffered ceiling of the room. “I don’t know, personality goes a long way with me. IfI find a guy hot but he turns out to be a complete asshole, I’m pretty sure I’m instantly turned off.”
“Maybe guys are just bred differently than girls,” Alex retorts.
“Obviously,” I deadpan. Then my gaze purposely lingers on his chest.
“Guilty,” he agrees, taking a sip of his gin and tonic.
I pivot to my left, locking eyes with Emma as I gesture toward Alex. “You see, this is why we don’t invite him out.”
Her eyes humor me for a few seconds. “Can we just order food, please? I’m starving, and I don’t have time for this.”
My face scrunches in discomfort. “I’ve been really good about not eating past nine o’clock.”
“As you drink alcohol that’s drenched in calories,” Emma states. Then she’s waving a hand over the length of me, the bell sleeve of her blouse whipping with the motion. “Also, you’re five-foot-seven, fit, curvy in all the right places, and overall, just a blonde bombshell.Shut up.”
I shake my head, returning my attention back to Alex. “Why am I being spoken to like this?”
Emma pulls me in for a side hug, and my hand instantly cups the side of her face to lay a kiss on her cheek. When I withdraw, I raise my cocktail to my mouth as I say, “I respectfully disagree with the ‘blonde bombshell’ part, but if you think there’s room for me to indulge, I willnotargue. I’m hungry as shit.”
We call the waitress over, sounding off our tapas orders before asking for another round of drinks. The next hour scrolls by, and when the clock strikes twelve, the three of us transform into pumpkins.
