“I’m proud of you. I don’t say it enough. I’m proud of how strong you are.”
Her hands held mine tight. “I’m strong for her. She was the positive one. She was the one that talked about getting out. When I wanted to—” She stopped, swallowing what she was about to say. “She painted a better picture. I live for the both of us. It’s the least we can do.”
I pulled her in for a hug and let her stay in my arms as long as she wanted.
She sniffled a few times before pulling back. “This is more depressing than I was hoping to get tonight,” she said with a laugh. “Let’s go grab some dinner.”
“Sure. My treat.”
“Damn right.”
We decided to hit the pub just down the block since she was demanding a cheeseburger to replenish after all that emotional crap. Apparently, we were more alike than just our looks.
We walked in the door and waited to be seated. The place looked like an Irish pub with dark wood and hunter green leather seats. On the far end of the restaurant were a dance floor and stage.
We’d just ordered our drinks when Hanna spoke. “Looks like our interns had the same idea as us.”
My eyes followed hers to the round table close to the bar and on the edge of the dance floor. Two male interns had their elbows leaned over on the table with beers in hand as they watched the dancing. My eyes tracked where they were looking and landed on a couple standing close, swaying to a slow song.
An ocean of white noise roared in my ears blotting out all other sounds in the bar. I took in the long legs bared by the very familiar black dress I’d seen Alexandra in earlier. Her hair stretched down her back almost brushing the bottom Carina had caught me staring at earlier. She stared up into the eyes of none other than Wyatt, the boy who’d been flirting with her a few weeks ago in the breakroom.
Fire burned through my veins as I watched his hands skirt above her ass, his fingers dipping down to crest the full curve. She didn’t pull back, instead remained plastered to his front, smiling up at him.
“She’s very pretty,” Hanna said.
Forcing myself to look down at the scarred wood of the table, I took deep breaths trying to cool myself off before raising my eyes. I ground my jaw when I took in Hanna’s smirking mouth. “I wouldn’t know,” I ground out.
“I don’t know how you don’t when your eyes can’t stop glaring at her. Does it bother you she’s dancing with Wyatt?”
“Shut up,” I growled.
Her head fell back and she laughed. “Man, Ian was right.”
I was saved from having to respond when our drinks were delivered. But she was right, I couldn’t force myself to stop looking over. Finally, the streak of slow songs ended and the two detangled, heading back to their seats.
Just as Alexandra was going to sit, Wyatt gestured to the bar and grabbed her hand. In the back of my mind, I knew Hanna was talking, but I didn’t think she expected me to listen. She’d been nice enough to not say anything more, but she kept smiling at me every time I turned back from watching Alexandra.
Wyatt ordered a drink and then leaned against the bar, facing Alexandra. They were too close, closer than they needed to be. It was eight in the evening on Thursday. The bar was hardly crowded. But she didn’t pull back. No, she stood perfectly still as Wyatt leaned in and brushed her hair back behind her ear. She stayed perfectly still as he leaned in and tipped her chin up so he could brush his lips against hers.
A base of anger thundered through me. She didn’t pull back. She didn’t even stand there prone. She turned her head and lifted on her toes, pressing her lips to his. When her mouth opened, bringing her tongue into play, I snapped and was out of my seat before I even realized what I was doing.
Hanna’s laughter rang behind me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called out.
I wove between people, my eyes not leaving the couple making out like some kind of porno against the bar. I walked right up and into her personal space just as she was pulling back from sucking face with the boy band model.
“Let’s go,” I managed to get out between clenched teeth.
She jerked and looked up at me with wide eyes. “Erik. What are you—”
“I said, let’s go.”
“What?” Her eyes narrowed, the word snapping like a warning. A warning I ignored.
“Don’t make a scene, Alexandra.”
She stood tall and didn’t cower against the bar like my height should have made her do. No, she took a step toward me and glared for all she was worth. Wyatt was smart enough to not interfere in the battle of wills currently happening.