Money Man (King Maker 1)

Two

Shoving open the restroom door, I realized just how soundproof the bathroom had been. With it open, the noise from the party hit me like I’d face-planted into a wall. I nearly stumbled back, but my determination to get away pushed me forward. Unsteady on my feet due to the alcohol—or because I had been thoroughly fucked, I kept going.

One thing I was grateful for was that we’d been the only occupants of the place as far as I could tell in my hasty retreat. That was probably because it had been so close to midnight.

Winding my way through the masses of people on the dance floor, I eventually found my way back to Lizzy. She was exactly where I had left her, glued to the guy who had found her the same time my stranger had found me.

Briefly, I’d wondered if the two guys were friends, because they’d approached us from behind at the same time. Lizzy and I had been drunk dancing together, giving anyone close a show.

I’d only gotten a passing glance at the guy who’d occupied her time before I tuned into my own sex-on-two-legs. Now getting a better look, her guy was very attractive and just a bit taller than her with a crown of dark blond hair and sexy scruff.

Apparently, during my time away, the pair was heading down the same path I’d been on. Lip-locked like long-lost lovers, they were grinding into each other like they needed a room. But, who was I to judge? I’d found a room in the form of a bathroom stall.

I hated to interrupt, but this was an emergency because on top of feeling like a whore, I also had to deal with the stranger’s rejection. I was probably his worst fuck ever. Exactly what Scott had told me as his reason he’d cheated on me. I could barely hold back the sickness in my gut. I had to leave before I completely lost it.

I tapped frantically on Lizzy’s back and she slowly disengaged herself from her man who had to be a supermodel. Who knew there were so many hot single guys in New York? He was gorgeous. And what was I thinking? Like a whore apparently.

Lizzy’s eyes narrowed on me. I knew that stare. She wasn’t pleased I’d cut in.

“Look, I have to get out of here. Either you’re coming with or I’ll see you later,” I said, standing on my toes to reach her ear.

Lizzy was taller than me by several inches, even in the heels I wore.

“What?” she said, holding out her hands in surrender, searching my eyes for an explanation.

“Later,” I said, turning away, suddenly feeling like I had seconds before I became violently ill from all the alcohol as memories of the past and of my present situation collided in my head. I needed to get away. I needed air. I heard her call out my name as I ran.

Outside, the crisp air hit me like the frost that escaped my mouth, instant and telling. Light puffy flakes flurried in the air as I hurried to the curb with my arm outstretched, hoping against hope for a cab at this hour on this night in New York City. I berated myself for not getting the Uber app like Lizzy had suggested. Thankfully, we weren’t in Times Square. Tears spilled from my eyes as I stared at the dirty curb, wanting to fall to my knees but thinking better of it. This night might just go down in history as one of my biggest regrets.

An arm came over my shoulder and I snapped around to see who it was. I sighed in relief when I spotted Lizzy. She held out my coat for me to shrug into. Damn, that was why I was so cold.

I could see the questions in her eyes. Why was I acting like a lunatic? And her answer if she’d known what I’d done. It wasn’t like I was the first girl to have a one-night stand, right? She’d say before adding who would blame me for it after all that had happened?

“What the hell, Bails?” Lizzy said as I slipped into the wool.

That’s when it hit me. Bile like a geyser ready to erupt. That fifth fruity drink had been too much. A yellow cab just pulled up from my earlier hail when I tossed my cookies onto the very curb I’d contemplated sitting on. It splashed as it left my mouth and landed on the ground. God knew what else besides vomit spattered onto Lizzy’s and my shoes. My friend’s Jimmy Choos might be ruined, but she held my hair like only a good bestie would.

“Yous two getting in or what?” came a voice from the open window of the cab.

The cabbie didn’t seem bothered that I was choking out the entire contents of my stomach. After a final retch, Lizzy opened the door and helped me inside. As our ride pulled away, I made the mistake of looking back.