Page 5 of Ruined Promises

Iarrive home and find Hadley already in the living room. After I had found Dominic and his secretary together, I’d gone to Hadley’s. She opened the door to me being a complete mess, eye makeup running down my face, and sans shoes. Hadley let me sleep in her guest room for a few nights, and when I argued with her that she needed her space and I would find a place of my own, she smacked me on the side of my head and insisted I stay. She told me that she had the extra room, and it would be just like old times living together.

The next day, with the help of our other friends, we moved my stuff out of Dominic’s and my apartment and into Hadley’s. The apartment building is closer to Maritime and just a block over from where our other best friend,Brynn, lives with her childhood best friend, Callum. He prefers to go by Cal; the only person who gets to call him Callum without getting an earful is Brynn. They have a strange relationship. They swear they are strictly platonic and have never messed around, but they have some of the hottest chemistry I’ve ever seen. We are just waiting for it to implode one day.

I met Hadley and Brynn at the start of our freshman year at WCU. We all shared a dorm suite. Brynn and Cal have been best friends since birth, so wherever she goes, so does he. He became an honorary tribe member of our group.

It was as if Brynn, Hadley, and I had known each other for years. People had a hard time believing that we had just met.During our sophomore year, Hadley and I had both begun seeing this guy. With it being new, neither of us gave away too many details, not wanting to jinx anything. That is until he showed up at our door, and we both realized we were dating the same guy. We gladly kicked him out when he tried to explain and spent the night laughing at how we didn’t figure it out sooner over a bottle of tequila.

“Celebrating already?” I laugh at Hadley, lounging back on the couch, sipping on a glass of champagne.

“Yeah, well, this is a huge deal,” she squeals as she stands and brings me over a large glass of my own. “We are officially rid of Dominic ‘I can’t keep it in my pants’ Jennings.”

“It’s not like he died. I still could see him on the street.” I set my bag down and remove my heels before accepting the glass from her.

“This is true, although we could pull some strings and have him offed. I’m sure we could Craigslist a hitman or something.” She nonchalantly shrugs as if searching Craigslist for a hitman is an everyday occurrence in our lives. “Never mind on that.” She holds up her glass, and I follow. “But you were right, and this means he no longer has a reason to stop by your office. So, I say cheers to being rid of him finally.”

“I willcheersto that.” Our glasses clink, and then we link our arms as if we were married and take a sip. Some things never change.

She takes my hand and leads me toward my bedroom. “Now, let’s make sure you look extra hot tonight. We are also celebrating that you are not working late. This ishuge.Maybe even more important than being rid of douche face.”

I know I work late often, but this is, I guess, a pretty big deal. I let my best friend go with it. I sit on the bed, sipping on my champagne, as Hadley tears through my closet, looking for the perfect outfit.

* * *

Sitting in a booth in the VIP section of Eiffel Park, I couldn’t be happier to be surrounded by my best friends. Hadley wasn’t kidding when she said that she knew one of the bouncers. When she texted Josh while we got ready, he not only put our names on the door but even managed to reserve aVIPtable for us. My best friend needs tofinda way to repay him for this. He went above and beyond.

Tonight isn’t my first time at this club, but it’s the first time in the VIP section. I am trying to take the full mental note to not think of anything work related, even if it would make for a great party venue.

I look around the room at the smiling and laughing faces. When my attention comes back to our booth, I find Hadley currently on her phone, hopefully making plans with Josh later for hooking us up while Cal whispers something into Brynn’s ear, playful smiles on both of their faces.

“Girl, you look hot tonight,” Brynn shouts across the table.I do look hot, don’t I?I decided on a black skinny-strap backless dress and strappy black heels.And when I say I decided, I guess I should say that Hadley threatened my womanhood if I didn’t wear it.

Two VIP waitresses approach the table: one carries a tray with two bottles of Dom Perignon, the other holding a tray of shots. “This is courtesy of Josh, at the front door.”

“Girl, you better thank him…” Brynn giggles as the waitress passes out shots between the four of us. “…with your vagina. Hell, if you don’t, I gladly will. This is amazing.”

I don’t miss the growl that emits from Cal, who is sitting next to her, as he pours the glasses of champagne.Hmm, interesting. I know that he’s overly protective of her, but that seemed more than that. Maybe the implosion between the two of them will be happening sooner than we think.

“Cheers to Lexi! To new beginnings.”

Everyone holds up their glass, and we throw back the shots.

“Woo!” Brynn shouts after slamming the glass down on the table. Well, it looks like Cal should have fun holding her hair back later.

The vodka and the champagne are the perfect mixture for nursing a hangover tomorrow in bed with reruns ofOne Tree Hillon Hulu. I bring the glass of champagne to my lips, and my nose twitches as the fizzy bubbles tickle my nose.

Hadley sets her glass down on the table and pulls me into an enthusiastic hug. “I am so incredibly proud of you. You are amazing.” Her words slur a little; clearly, she is already feeling the effects of the champagne we consumed earlier before everyone got to our apartment.

I gently rest my head against hers. “Thanks. You know I couldn’t do this without you.”

She straightens up, and I spin to face her. “No, it was all you.”

A familiar tune interrupts our conversations and blasts through the speakers. I shriek, causing Hadley to jump back and cringe at my high volume. She dramatically rubs her ears as if I just made her deaf.I have been known to dance in my underwear and sing into a wooden spoon to this song.

I down the rest of my champagne and jump to my feet, placing the glass back on the table.Yep, this isdefinitely goingto leave a mark tomorrow.

“Come on; this is my jam!Let’s go dance.” I pout, giving an overdramatic sad face. The amount of champagne flooding my veins makes me not above throwing a temper tantrum in public.

“I haven’t had enough to drink for that,” Cal moans from his seat.

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