Page 36 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

“Is she okay?” Harold pointed to Ashanti who was passed out on the table. Her curly hair splayed behind her, a tendril draped in the soy sauce left from their dumplings. One cheek was pressed against the wooden grain while the other ballooned and fell with every breath.

“Ash.” Luke shook her shoulder. “Wake up.”

She brushed him off and continued dozing.

James laughed, two red circles on his pale cheeks. “She’s cute.”

Luke ignored him. “Come on, Ash. It’s time to go home.” He managed to coax her into a sitting position and watched as soy sauce dripped off the end of her curls. “Michelle, could you pass me a napkin?”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Why?”

“Here, cuz.” Weng slapped one in his palm.

“Thanks.” Luke shot Michelle a frown and then turned to Ashanti. Her eyes were set at half-mast and even though she was sitting up, she couldn’t stop swaying.

“Luke?”

“Yeah?” He reached over and squeezed her hair out with the napkin. When he pulled the cloth back, it was stained black.

“Why is the room spinning?”

“The room isn’t spinning. You are.”

Weng chuckled. He had consumed the same amount of alcohol as James and Harold, but he was in full control of his faculties. It was a gift handed down by his father. Luke had never seen his Uncle John slayed by liquor.

“What’s so funny?” Luke grumbled.

“You.” Weng stood. “I’ve already called Lin to pick up Harold and James. Leave Ashanti with me and take Michelle home.”

“The light,” Ashanti lifted a hand to shade her face, “it’s so bright.”

“No way.” Luke shook his head.

“Why not?” Michelle demanded. “He said he’d take her home.”

“You were drinking,” Luke reminded Weng.

“So? I can still drive.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Luke, relax. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“You’ll always be a kid to me,” Luke said firmly. How dare this young pup try and act older than his age? “Pick a ride. Are you coming with me or with Lin?”

Weng pouted. “I’ll walk.”

Before Luke could argue with his cousin, a short woman burst through the doors of the bar. She had pale skin, dainty facial features and intelligent brown eyes. Her long grey dress hung over her two sizes too large.

“Look at that!” Harold yelled. “My wife is here! Hello, honey.”

James pointed. “It’s Lin.”

“Goodnight, everyone.” Lin tugged her purse strap higher on her shoulder. Tendrils of her dark black hair fell messily over her face.

“That’s my wife,” Harold told Michelle. His words slurred so it was a challenge to understand what he said next. “We could have been millionaires you know, but you had to come and drag me away. Why did you do that, honey? Why?”

“What is wrong with you?” Lin hissed. “It’s the middle of the week. You have work tomorrow and you get this smashed?”

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