Page 42 of I Did Before I Do

She laughed, pressing her tits against the back of my head.

“Whoa, hey, not looking for company tonight.” I chuckled uneasily, leaning forward. She followed, bending over my chair.

“Ryker, hey. You know you’re my favorite, right?” She glanced up at Bradley. “Especially now that Bradley’s off the market.”

The disdain in her voice made Bradley frown. “No need to be rude, Em. And I can still be your favorite artist.”

“Nah, I’m going with Ryker from now on.” She combed one hand through my hair. She reeked of alcohol.

“Emily, how drunk are you? How long have you been here?”

She shrugged. “I dunno. Five-thirty, six?”

I’d seen her drink before. She could put it away fast.

She was definitely too wasted for anybody to take home.

I shifted in my chair and wrapped one arm around her waist. “Hey, whoa, you can barely stand. Why don’t you sit down and drink some more water, huh?”

“I’ve got whiskey at our table. Come share it with me?”

“I think you need water. And some of those pretzel sticks they make. Soak up a little of that alcohol before you go home.”

She laughed, pushing herself against me. Her tits were in my face.

Dammit.

“C’mon,” she said, “don’t you want to take me home?”

“No, I really don’t.” I kept my arm around her. Even with me supporting her, she was swaying, clearly unsteady. I sighed and stood up, shifting my arm to her shoulders. “Come on. I’m gonna call you a cab. Okay?”

I had cash in my wallet. I could cover the fare.

I turned toward the door.

It opened.

Sydney walked in.

She was still dressed for work, in another pencil skirt and button-down blouse. She’d undone a few buttons of her blouse.

She smiled at me, for just a second. Then she seemed to realize that I had another girl on my hip. Fury flashed in her eyes.

“What the fuck, Ryker?” She turned on her heel without giving me a chance to explain.

Shit.

I turned and dropped Emily down into the seat I’d just vacated. “Watch her!”

Benny and Bradley both nodded. Benny jerked his head toward the door. “Go get her.”

I turned and half-ran to the front door of the bar.

“Sydney!” I shouted, pushing the door open.

She was already gone, her tires squealing as she hauled ass out of the parking lot.

“Son of a bitch!” I kicked the doorframe, then turned and went back inside. I slapped two twenties from my wallet on the table. “Make sure Emily gets home safe. Don’t let some asshole take her home.”

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