Page 5 of Not So Casual

The elevator pings and I step out. Pulling open the door to the gym, I glance around and smile when I notice I have the whole area to myself. When the place is empty, I end up doing more since I don’t have to worry about making a fool of myself. I wouldn’t consider myself too muscular, but I have a fit body. As I get older, I try to make sure I keep up with watching what I eat and working out a few times a week.

Walking over to the treadmill, I step on and set it at a leisure pace, so I can warm up. I spend the next hour working up a sweat, trying to get rid of all thoughts of Elias. When my body is bone tired, I make my way back up to my condo, where I shower and crash for the night.

Sitting on the couch, my body jerks when my phone rings. Quickly grabbing it, I see Elias’ name pop up, and I hesitate, debating whether I should answer. He’s never called me on a Saturday night before, but the thought that he might be in trouble has me quickly sliding the answer button and bringing the phone up to my ear.

“Hello?”

Pounding bass music hits my ear and I pull the phone back, flinching.

“Alexanderrrr,” his voice slurs. My body instantly goes on alert at the sound of Elias’ voice.

“Elias? Elias, I can barely hear you.”

“I-I-I drank too much, Alexander. You told me I couldn’t so guessss what?” He hiccups on the phone before his voice comes back. “I drank a lot, and danced with many sexy men, but all I keep hearing is your stupid ass voice telling me not to drink too much.”

His words come out slurred, but clear enough to understand what he’s saying. Normally, I would find the situation amusing if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s somewhere out in public like this.

“Elias, where are you?” I demand, my pulse thundering at the thought of him being drunk in public.

The blaring music hits my ears again, and I can slightly hear Elias talking to someone in the background. His giggling fills my ears before I hear his voice again. “Alexander, you may be the boss in the office, but not here.”

His words are cut off and replaced by a woman's soft voice, “Alexander? Alexander Hayes?”

“This is him. Who’s this? Where is Elias?”

“It’s Melanie, his best friend.” She giggles loudly, and I can tell she’s just as drunk as he is. “We’re over at Club Rainbow. I swear he’s fine, he’s just a bubbly drunk and gets too excited.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhale a deep sigh, closing my eyes. “Put Elias back on the damn phone,” I growl.

“Ooh, Elias was right about bossy Alexander Hayes. Anyway, here he is.”

Loud music hits my ears again, and I pull the phone away, a headache starting to form.

“Yes, Alexander?” he sasses through the phone.

“How drunk are you? Do you need a ride home?”

Fucking hell. I’ve never heard him like this before. Elias is always bratty, but never to this extent.

“I drank some and then every time your voice rang in my mind all ‘don’t drink too much’ I would down another shot just to piss you off.” He laughs while my jaw tics and my teeth clench.

“Is that why you called? To let me know you’re a big boy who can drink as much as he wants?”

“Basically.”

“It’s time for you to go home, Elias.”

“Hmmm. I think not. Now, I’m going to go drink some moreee. Bye Alexander.”

Before I’m able to get another word in, the line cuts off, blanketing me in silence once again. Tossing the phone down, I rub circles at my temples, debating how I should be feeling.

On the one hand, I’m not surprised this is his reaction to my comment last night. He always has to be defiant, purposely doing the opposite of what I say. However, this is a side of Elias I’ve never seen before. On the other hand, I’m worried he’s out drunk in a public place with no one to look out for him.

I’m sure he can handle himself. If he hadn’t called, I wouldn’t even know he’s out drinking. But fuck, I do know. And he sounded way too drunk to be out in public. What if someone was to try to take advantage of him?

“Fuck it,” I whisper to the empty room.

Snatching my phone and wallet, and I make my way to the elevator and ride down to the parking garage. After inputting the address to Club Rainbow in my GPS, I drive my Mercedes toward downtown, my thoughts on Elias the entire way there. The thought of something happening to him has me pressing down harder on the gas pedal, my knuckles turning white on the steering wheel. Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up in front of the club, rushing out of the car, not caring if I’m allowed to be parked where I am.

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