Page 22 of Alpha Reid

The waitress approaches our table with a tray full of drinks, wedging herself between Reid and I to pass them out. She sets beers in front of all of the guys, drinks in front of the girls, and… nothing in front of me.

“Oh, my bad!” she exclaims, acting like it’s some big mistake. “What’d you have again, sweetie?”

I grit my teeth at her patronizing tone, but then Reid speaks up, his deep voice cutting through the bar noise. “She had a grape vodka and sprite,” he says calmly, his eyes flickering from me to the waitress. “I’d appreciate if you could bring that over right away. Thanks, Soph.”

She sucks in a breath, nodding quickly as she tucks the empty drink tray under her arm. “Sure thing, sorry about that.”

The waitress scampers away and we go back to chatting about tomorrow’s training with the squad until she returns with my drink in record time. She actually brings me two, apologizing again for her forgetfulness. I almost believe her.

After a couple more drinks, I’m feeling pretty loose when Quinn suggests that all the girls head to the bar for a round of shots. I’ve never been a fan of shots- straight alcohol is way too bitter for my liking- but Quinn convinces me that a lemon drop shot is an ‘easy’ one.

She’s wrong. It’s just a shot of straight vodka, dressed up by licking some sugar beforehand and sucking on a lemon after. I feel like I just sucked down jet fuel and I’m spitting fire, the other girls giggling at my reaction.

“Fine, we won’t make you take anymore,” Quinn laughs, spinning around and leaning her torso over the top of the bar, waving to the bartender to get her attention.

“Count me out, too,” Brooke mutters, making a face. She turns to me, setting a hand on my arm. “I’m with you, Serena, shots are gross. If it wasn’t for peer pressure, I’d never do them.”

Astrid hiccups, tapping Quinn on the shoulder. “I’d better sit this one out, too. Time for me to switch to water.”

“Looks like it’s just you and me, Fal,” Quinn sighs, slipping an arm over Fallon’s shoulders.

The two of them each take two more shots while I sip another grape vodka drink and Astrid sucks down a water.

“Let’s go dance!” Astrid suggests, throwing her hands in the air and wiggling around excitedly.

I look out to the dance floor and it’s packed with people, the DJ’s colored lights sweeping over the crowd and illuminating the sweaty bodies.

“Yes!” Quinn and Fallon agree almost in unison.

Fallon’s the first to push forward, grabbing her sister’s hand on the way and pulling her toward the dance floor. Astrid’s quick to follow, and Quinn’s about to join them when she turns to me. “Coming?”

“Two seconds,” I reply, holding up two fingers. “I just wanna finish this drink.”

Quinn stops her tracks, reaching out for Astrid’s arm. “We can wait,” she offers.

“You guys go ahead,” I insist. “I’ll be right behind you.”

I watch after them as they head out to the dance floor behind the twins, raising my glass to my lips and taking another little sip. I turn at the waist to set it behind me on the bar when I inadvertently lock eyes with the guy leaning over the bar top beside me, his lips immediately tipping up into a slick smile.

“Hey there,” he greets, his dark gaze focused in on mine. “Come here often?”

I snort, rolling my eyes. “Nice line.”

He leans back, rising up to his full height- and this guy has got to be six and a half feet tall, he towers over most everyone around him.

“Not a line, just a question,” he shrugs, playing it cool. “I’m Chase.”

Where do I know that name from?I take in his bulky physique, feel the alpha energy rolling off of him, and it clicks.Chase.The elusive sixth up-and-coming alpha. Funny, he doesn’t look like he’s still in high school…

“Serena,” I breathe, lifting my chin.

“Serena,” he repeats, like he’s testing it out. “You wanna do a shot?”

I wrinkle my nose in distaste. “No thanks.”

“Aw, c’mon,” Chase urges, chuckling as he leans in a little closer. “It’s my birthday.”

A group of five guys come piling off of the dance floor loudly, filling in the space around Chase.

---