AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He got up and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Iheard footsteps coming to where I was sprawled out on the couch in the lounge. I lifted the ugly yellow pillow from my head.
Dice stared down at me. “Feeling it today, huh?”
He was compounding the concern that I’d made an utter ass of myself last night. I’d woken up in Kaden’s guest room this morning, my head foggy and pounding. My memory of the prior evening was near nonexistent. It felt akin to an abstract painting where I got a general sense of a mood but the details were all a blur of blues and grays.
Kaden had walked me back in the morning but barely uttered more than a couple of words. I hadn’t had the nerve to ask him what went down.
“Don’t give me details, but was it as bad as I fear?” My entire body tensed as I waited for the verdict. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. What possible good would come from having what I feared confirmed?
“You didn’t have time to betoobad. Couple of spins for the crowd, a little bit of stumbling, quite a bit of giggling, and some flashing. Other than that, you were fine. Kaden got you out of there as soon as it started hitting the skids.”
“Flashing?” I sat up, hoping I’d heard wrong.
“Yeah, when you were doing all those spins?” He made a little twirling motion with his finger. “The jacket you were wearing would flap open. Everything was hanging out.”
I dropped my head into my hands and groaned. I thought I’d felt bad ten minutes ago.
“I don’t know why you’re reacting like this,” Dice said. “I’ve had dates that were more of a scene on your average Monday night. At least you’ve got nice tits and, if you don’t mind me saying, a killer ass.”
My skin was so hot that I must’ve looked like an apple. “I’m an accountant. I don’t get drunk and make scenes and flash my…” I planted my palms on my eyes, groaning again.
I didn’t want to ask any more questions, but there was one I had to know. How had I ended up at Kaden’s? Had I thrown myself at him?Please tell me I didn’t come on to him. Anything but that.
“Do you know why I was at Kaden’s place? Why didn’t I come back here?” I tried to sound as casual as possible. Last thing I needed was Dice to know what I feared. He’d tell Cookie and Connor, and I doubted I’d hear the end of it.
Dice laughed, each guffaw upping the temperature of my cheeks.
He leaned on the back of the couch, looking for support until he stopped laughing. “That was the funniest. You were too drunk to pass through the outpost door, so Kaden ended up taking you home. You should’ve seen Antoinette’s face. It was priceless. You don’t remember any of this?”
I was too relieved to care if he laughed some more. At least I hadn’t come on to Kaden.
Cookie walked in. “Hey, the good-time girl is here! You feeling like death warmed over or what?”
I said in a deathly serious tone, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
She let out a belly laugh. “Yeah, considering last night, I can see your point. Or see yourpointsmight be more accurate.” She laughed some more, taking a second to wipe a tear from her eye.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed something…
I eyed the jar of lollipops. There was a purple left. They were the best by far. As if Cookie and Dice were psychic, they both turned as my hand approached the jar. I paused, not having committed the crime yet. These people really liked their purples. Did I dare?
There was a gasp from Dice.
Screw it. I grabbed it, not caring if there were going to be repercussions. Last night I’d gotten drunk on fountain water and proceeded to flash everyone in my prospective field of business. Ineededthe purple lollipop.
They gaped at me as I unwrapped it and popped it in my mouth.
“That’s right. I took the purple, and I’m not sorry.” And it was oh so worth it. This thing was like sucking on candy heaven. Another few of these and I might get through this day of regrets and humiliation.
“Fine. You’re on pick-up rotation now, just so you know. And it’s not pleasant to go. That’s all I’m saying.” Cookie looked at Dice. “Someone is going to have to go with her the first time.”
“Why can’t I go alone?” I asked.
“You need a recommendation from a currently approved purchaser before you’re allowed to buy,” Dice said, settling onto the other couch and grabbing a machete from the side table to pick under his nails. “I’ll bring you. It was my turn to go anyway, but I can’t do it today. I have a really bad assignment.”
