Page 148 of Something So Strong

“Do you think I’d be stupid enough to not check the camera first?” she hisses back and I’m slapped in the face with the stench of alcohol. It’s strong. Spirits mixed with beer. Her eyes are struggling to stay focused as she tries with all she has to concentrate on everything she has to say.

“I’m not sure, Al. You seem pretty fired up. You don’t tend to use your brain when you’re this emotional.” Staring down at Alma, I’m reminded of how much of a powerhouse she is. She’s strong, rigid, and persistent as hell.

“If I wanted feedback on my emotional state, I’d have asked for it. Now answer my question.”

“God, you talk to me like shit sometimes.” Shaking my head, I turn from her and stand beside Jesse. “In case you haven’t noticed, we aren’t hungover. Weren’t late this morning either. Both here bright and perky at seven am.”

Alma’s jaw quivers just enough for me to notice.

I hate seeing her like this, but it’s also a confrontation that’s been two months in the making. And now that Andy’s gone, all her attention is back on me.

“We were back at midnight too, if you must know.”

Taking a step closer, Alma’s eyes drift to Jesse and she stops—intoxication rendering her unable to hide the malicious glare she’s giving him.

“It’s just like last time. I’ve been running around all morning trying to sort shit out.”

“You sure about that, Al? It smells like you’ve been quietly seething in a corner.”

“Yes, I’m fucking sure. Cleo is MIA, Nate isn’t answering my calls, and Kendall threw up on a client’s skis!”

“Not quite sure how that’s my problem. Especially Nate, considering he doesn’t work till tonight. Why should he answer his phone?”

“But-said-you.” Alma stumbles over her words and pounds her fist against her thigh. “You said you’d be responsible.”

“Excuse me?” I can feel a pulsing through my temples as I clench my teeth together. “Why the hell is it my responsibility to hold their hands? They’re all adults. We were responsible. We behaved exactly like we said we would.”

“We-we-we,” Alma mocks, rocking her head from side to side. “All you ever talk about is we!”

“I can’t help but feel personally attacked, if I’m being honest.” Jesse tosses his phone into the shit drawer and slams it shut. Returning to my side, he crosses his arms over his chest, and the air of possessive disdain radiating off him towards Alma has me fighting against the urge to drop to the ground and suck him dry right in front of her. “I don’t actually think last night has anything to do with it… Does it, Alma?”

Of course, it doesn’t. All three of us know exactly why she’s here.

“What are you talking about? Why else would I be here? Because of you—” She waves her hand in Jesse’s direction with a cavalier dismissiveness that I know she’s spent hours practicing. “Kai convinced me to—”

“Convinced?” My voice raises and I don’t care if they can hear me in the cafe just off of reception. “I mentioned in passing that we could all use a night out and you volunteered the club!”

Caught in her lie, Alma’s eyes widen, but she stands her ground.

“So, all that follow-the-rules bullshit you were going on about last night was part of the act, then?” Jesse asks, but we all know it’s rhetorical.

“I… I…” she falters.

“Should quit drinking alone in the dark?”

“Fuck you, Kai.” She’s losing her cool.

“What’s your problem with Jesse?”

“I don’t have one.”

Bullshit!

The man on the moon can see it. And I assume she’s trying to get him fired, but hit the bottle a little too hard after the beers we so kindly gave her last night.

“Your jealousy is showing.”

“I think she’s in love with you, Kai.”

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