All My Firsts: Up in the Treehouse, Center of Gravity, Weight of Regret by K.K. Allen

Author:K.K. Allen [Allen, K.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-02T23:00:00+00:00

chapter 23

THEO

Lex stood with Reggie against the rooftop rail, sharing a laugh, a smile, probably a private joke. I couldn’t tear my eyes away all night, not even when Winter began showing signs she’d had too much to drink. The leaning, the pawing, the giggles that manifested in cackling sounds. Lex’s laughter was much sweeter. Lighter.

I looked at my watered-down scotch, the same one I’d been nursing for the past hour. That was about how long Lex and Reggie had been chatting. I couldn’t help wondering if their conversation was any good or if Lex was just being polite. But the look on her face didn’t tell me she was just being polite. It said the opposite, in fact. What I saw was deep conversation, heads bent low, and smiles. Too many smiles.

Lex excused herself, finally, and weaved her way through the thin but still-growing crowd toward the bathroom. I stood, hoping to catch her again and not knowing why. The terms were clear. My promise to keep things professional was still fresh. But it was more than that. In the little time I’d spent with Lex, I’d grown somewhat attached. She was interesting and funny. I was allowed to feel those things, even with her. Was it crazy of me to want to salvage whatever friendship had been building between us?

Except I fucked up whatever chance I had at friendship today. I should never have taken my frustration with Winter out on Lex. But I didn’t regret asking her not to come. I knew what the night would be like the moment Winter invited me here and then the crew. I’d said yes for business and only that. But Winter wanted to make it more, so she made it appear like more. By arriving together, flirting, clutching me at every opportunity.

“You can’t limit me.” The shriek came from Winter, who was sitting where I left her on the couch. “I’m paying the goddamn bill, and we want another round of shots.” She stamped her foot and slammed her ice-filled glass on the table. “Now.”

The waitress had her tray against her chest and her eyes wide while searching the crowd. I jumped in, knowing Winter enough to see the signs were there. She was done for the night. “Sorry, ma’am. I’ve got her. We’re ready to sign.”

Winter growled at me and punched my leg. Fuck, that hurt. I sat down, wincing at the bruise she’d surely caused. I leaned into her ear. “Let me take you home.”

“But I’m having fun,” she whined.

I looked around, noticing that most of the eyes on the rooftop were on us. God, I hated that moment. She’d asked me to accompany her, and I couldn’t exactly tell her no. She was my client, and kissing ass was part of the gig. But the thrills of kissing Winter’s ass, in particular, had begun to wear off.

Is this what Winter has become? Messy. Emotional. Unreasonable. And she was too goddamn rich to care.

The bill came minutes later,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.