Page 25 of Enticing My Off Limits Billionaire

Bryn snorts. "Girl, same," she says. "After three years at the White Oak, I'm sick of the stuff."

"So...tequila shots all around?" Sophia asks.

I grin. "Sounds great."

"Trip!" Sophia calls across the bar. "We know what we want!"

I look across the bar, and I'm surprised to find Trip, one of the sommeliers from the White Oak. He raises his hand in greeting, tossing his dark hair back. He's cute, and I've always thought he's flirting, though I kind of figured he and Bryn had a thing.

"Well, look who it is!" he says. "Fancy meeting you here, Sterling."

"Did you not know I was invited...?" I ask, glancing over at Sophia.

Sophia laughs. "He didn't even know we were coming; it was a surprise."

"And by 'surprise', she means that they swing by for free drinks," Trip mutters, though he shakes his head with a laugh. "So...three tequila shots on the house?"

"Hell yes," Bryn says. "Let's get this party started!"

Trip brings over our shots and even does one with us—and the tequila goes straight to my head. I get a vodka soda next, and the three of us take our drinks to the dancefloor.

I feel self-conscious compared to the two of them, watching as they dance with each other. I've always been awkward in comparison, not sure how to move my body, reserved, and on my best behavior. As a kid, my mom's sanity felt fragile—and I made sure she didn't have anything to worry about with me.

Kylie is supposed to be my ride-or-die, the person who gives me the confidence to do things like this.

But Kylie's about to give birth to my half-sibling.

I slam my drink and go back to the bar, getting Trip's attention with a wave of my hand. He looks at the empty glass and then back at me, raising his eyebrows.

"Already finished?" he asks.

I nod.

"Another one?"

I nod again. "And another shot while you're at it."

He grimaces slightly, though he catches himself halfway through the expression. I don't think he notices that I see him.

"I'm fine," I tell him preemptively.

"Meaning you'll be okay with just one more vodka soda for now?" he asks.

I roll my eyes, and he snickers as he makes my drink. "Here you go," he says as he passes it over. "Take it easy, Sterling."

I take a big gulp of my drink, the soda water tingling my throat. "Don't call me that," I tell him over the crowd's noise. "It's Madison."

"Okay, Madison," he grins. "I'm about to get off-shift, but I'll join you guys over there when I'm done."

Is he flirting? I think he's flirting, but I can't tell if that's just the drinks or how he is with everyone. I've heard the way the girls at the White Oak talk about him, and it sounds like he gets around.

But I smile and blush, fluttering my eyelashes. "See you soon."

I pull my phone out as I head back to the dancefloor, finding a text from Quinn. We've been going back and forth about architecture stuff for the performance space all day, and this is just the continuation of a conversation from earlier—a text he sent hours ago asking how I'm doing. I bite my lip as I lean against the bar, texting him back.

I'm doing great. Out with some friends tonight.

I stare at the screen, waiting for him to respond. There's nothing—and I realize with a flash of self-consciousness that it's well after eleven.

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