Page 49 of Life of the Party

“Yes. It’ll be good for you. Go out, have some fun, forget about…” She didn’t say his name, in case he was listening, but Charlie motioned her head towards Grey.

“Yeah.” I looked over at him, forgetting myself, regretting it the moment I did.

Just the sight of his face behind the line was enough to pang me, to remind me I was only fooling myself. I wasn’t over him, not yet, no matter how much I tried.

Brad’s amber eyes lit up when I told him I could go early.

“Awesome. You grab the food; I’ll run to the liquor store. What can I get you?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Whiskey?”

He looked surprised. “Most girls get…coolers or something.”

“Well, I’m not most girls.”

“No kidding.” Brad agreed. “You like to party, don’t you?”

“You could say that.” I smiled coyly. More like, lived for it.

He grinned widely. “I’m really glad we’re going out tonight, Mackenzie.”

I thought about that for a moment, and my answer was sincere. “I am too.”

We smiled at each other as he left. I made my way back to the station, excited for our evening to begin, eager to get as wasted as I possibly could.

Grey was staring at me as I approached the order window, like he was impatient, like he’d been waiting for me. It took me by surprise; normally he kept his head down so we couldn’t talk. Hesitantly, I leaned against the counter. After nothing but silence from him for so long, this sudden attention made me wary.

“Can I get that order to go?” I broached cautiously, aware of his eyes on my face, the heat of his stare.

“That’s not what it said on the slip.”

“I know. He…changed his mind.”

“Who is this guy anyway?” Grey asked suddenly, surprising me again. He must have overheard my conversation with Charlie. His eyes were narrowed, glittering angrily. “Some cowboy? Why the hell are you going out with him?”

I blinked at him a moment, stupefied. The look on Grey’s face told me he was used to having women fall all over him, all the time, no matter how badly he treated them, no matter how hurt and rejected they’d been. I could tell he expected the same from me, and I’d felt that way once, too, before—like it didn’t matter what he said or what he did or how he behaved, I’d take whatever I could get. And though my stupid, foolish heart couldn’t seem to stop loving Grey…I had enough pride, enough confidence to realize I did deserve better. That he couldn’t treat me like total garbage and just get away with it.

I met his gaze evenly, my dark eyes daring him to disagree. “That’s none of your fucking business, is it?” I retorted.

Grey’s face lost its hardness. He seemed struck, startled by my words, staring at me with…wonder, almost. He dropped his head, his jaw flexing as he bent to transfer Brad’s burger into a styrofoam container.

“Here.” He mumbled, placing it on the counter.

I took the order and grabbed my things without another look back, like I was totally confident, totally in control. Thankfully, Grey couldn’t hear the way my heart was pounding. Couldn’t see the way my hands were shaking, as Charlie stopped me with a whisper.

“Take this with you, too, just in case.” She insisted, handing me her vial.

I gasped. “Charlie, you’re the best. Seriously.”

“Have fun.” She gave me a squeeze. “I’ll call you tomorrow…and I expect details.”

“Okay.” I laughed, tucking the vial excitedly into my purse, waving elatedly as I headed for the entrance of the restaurant. I grabbed the silver door handle and pulled, but a sudden hand over the jamb prevented the door from opening.

I looked up in curious surprise.

It was Grey. He stood beside me, his arm above my shoulder to hold the door shut. I was amazed to find him standing there, in his white-checked kitchen attire, a black hat on his head, his blue eyes steady and intense on mine.

We stared at each other a moment before he spoke.

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