Page 2 of Tied

“They’re called drinks, Kitten.”

“Lincoln. Come on, just one.” With a monster pout, Julia flops back onto the chaise. Honestly, I love seeing her like this. The prim, proper, contained Julia acts like the good old Keenan we first met. Meeting Keenan while she had no memory of her past, she was a bit...amusing. Julia is regimented.

He shakes his head. “No, love. I just finished a work out, and now I want to work out with you.”

“Oh.” Julia beams. “Can we go to upstairs?”

“No. Time to go home, Kitten.”

She sticks her bottom lip out so far, it almost hits her chest. “Please?” she whines.

Sticking his hand out to her, he grins. It's easy to see she's won.

“Yeah!” She jumps up excitedly, yet wobbly. “Oh. Too much vodka.”

“That’s it, Kitten.” He hoists her over his shoulder. “Let’s go. Home time.” Hearing her whine and grumble doesn’t deter Rush in the least. “Night. boys.” He smirks and turns toward the door.

Watching him leave, and her still trying to change his mind, I know that now is my time to exit gracefully. “I’m going home. I have an early day at work,” I say, rising and moving around the table.

“I should be going too. Tessa will need help in a few hours,” Tig states, guzzling the last of his drink.

After our goodbyes, the two of us hit the sidewalk outside to hail a ride. “Next time, right?”

It’s the running joke. Next time I’ll meet a guy worthy of my time. “Yep. Next time,” I say to Tig as he hops in his Uber.

Standing on the curb alone, I wait for my ride to pull up. “Next time it is,” I mumble to myself.

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