Page 171 of Crazy for this Girl

The brat in my arms tsks. “Don’t assume to know anything, Cal Harper. I’m not some desperate—”

“You were desperate for that orgasm a few seconds ago. You’re appallingly still attracted to me. I know you aren’t going to let me in easily. I’m fully aware you like your job and don’t want the office to know you’re sucking my dick underneath my desk. However, eventually, you’re going to be wearing more than my mouth on that sweet cunt. Long haul, baby.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Now get outta here before I fuck you into this chaise and make it my new favorite piece of furniture.”

I’ve been working myself to death so that I can’t think about anything but how tired I am. We’ve been back from North Carolina for three days. I bring Cal his coffee, reports, I order his lunch, and we’ve talked briefly about him sending proposals to the two chefs from Detroit, but that’s about it.

I’m avoiding, and he knows it. Except he’s allowing me to have my moment because he’s aware of exactly who I am.

I’ll literally run away from him.

Tonight is the perfect night for being able to focus on nothing confusing in my life because it’s Marie’s bachelorette party and the Watering Hole is packed on a Thursday. My goals—run a huge bar tap, dance with Marie and her friends, and listen to Khloe bitch about work, because next week, I know Cal and I need to speak about his deployment and how badly it’s affected him.

And as selfish as it sounds, I know it’s going to be another heartbreaking thing I have to endure and learn to accept.

I’m terrified that my best friend, the boy I’ve loved since forever, is going to suffer through these traumatic events for the rest of his life and there'll be nothing I can do about it.

It’s what he’s tried to keep from me.

I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done in his position. Would I want him worrying about me constantly? Because he would. He’d drive himself insane with doubt and anguish. And I can’t imagine how that would personally affect me with all the things I know he’s seen.

“Laynee—” Marie’s little arm wraps around my shoulder and she snuggles up to my side while I’m in the middle of finishing my third Long Island Iced Tea. “—thank you so much for coming.”

I glance over at her with a beaming and half-in-the-bag smile. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Do you have to work tomorrow?”

Ugh. Work.

Work equals Cal.

“Yes, but this is fine. I needed a night out.”

“How do you like being Mr. Harper’s assistant?” Her face grows serious. “Is he mean?”

I mindlessly shake my head because I wouldn’t tell her the truth even if we were closer than we are. “Not at all. He’s just straightforward.”

“He doesn’t smile.”

“He’s really busy. I don’t think that’s on top of his list.”

“I tried to offer him a sucker the other day when he stormed out of his office, but he glared at me.” Her lips push out in a pout and I can’t help the smile that creeps up my lips.

Marie is so sweet, it’s stupid.

Her position at Grand Regent as the receptionist is perfect because she draws in that welcoming persona when you walk in and is always in a shit-eating rainbow mood.

“I think he just likes coffee, girl.” I bump my hip into hers to get her to relax and not focus on it. “Don’t sweat him.”

Taking another sip of my drink, Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado begins blaring off the several large speakers of the dancefloor.

Motherfucker.

“Better get out there!” Khloe chortles as I pivot around to find her with a few of Marie’s friends. She lifts her lime green margarita in the air. “Your fan club is waiting.”

“Just a coincidence,” I shout back because no one has come up to me tonight, thanks to my bitchy glare.

Khloe jerks her head. “Go see who it is. You need to dance some stress off.”

She’s not wrong, but I don’t want to move my hips. I’m not drunk enough yet to allow my feelings to let me have some fun right now.

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