Echo (Bleeding Hearts #1)(10)
I couldn’t blame them, but it made me feel like I had to keep my real identity hidden away. Most of my co-workers came from well-to-do families who had racked up generations of Ivy League Diplomas. The only one who I thought might have been closer to my side of the spectrum was Matt.
He greeted Nicole and I at the bar, dressed in a black leather jacket and blue jeans. Simple and casual, and much more suited to his personality than his daily business attire.
“Good evening, ladies.” He winked and handed us a couple of menus. “Pick your poison, drinks are on me.”
Nicole pursed her lips and tried to hand it back. “I’m not drinking anything.”
Matt gave her a tight smile and took the menu from her hand. “Fine, then I’ll order you whatever Brighton’s having.”
He turned to me, and I tried to hide the smile behind my menu as they continued to bicker.
“I guess I’ll try the Kool-Aid cocktail. Sounds like my style.”
“Perfect.” Matt flagged down the bartender. “Two Kool-Aid cocktails coming right up. Why don’t you ladies grab us a seat somewhere.”
To my surprise, Nicole didn’t argue him on this point, and I followed her towards the back of the bar. There were groups of other employees scattered about, but she didn’t seem too eager to mingle with them. Instead, she chose a dark corner in the back.
Once we sat down, she dug around in her purse and retrieved a pill container.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, my eyes lingering on the pill in her hand.
“I’m fine.” She gave me a weak smile. “I get a little anxious sometimes, that’s all.”
“Hey, Brighton, Nicole. Nice to see you here.”
I glanced up to see one of the other employees from the Bennett Corporation standing over us. I’d seen him around a few times, but we didn’t work on the same floor, so I was surprised he even knew my name.
“Hello.” I smiled politely.
“It’s Tom.” He pointed at his chest. “I’m afraid we haven’t had much time to speak to each other at the office.”
Nicole ignored him as she pulled out her phone, leaving me to fend for myself.
“No, I guess we haven’t,” I agreed.
He gestured to one of the empty chairs next to me. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Oh.” I shifted in my chair and snuck a glance at Nicole. “Of course not.”
He took a seat beside me and started to chatter away about work. After a few minutes, I relaxed. Tom seemed happy to steer the conversation, so I just followed his lead. When Matt returned with our drinks and sat down, he furrowed his brows when he saw that Tom had joined us.
Still, he made an effort to keep up the conversation and be polite. They both peppered me with questions about my life and what I thought of San Francisco. Every time the waitress came over they ordered us another round of drinks. The danger was that mine tasted like juice, and judging by the way my head was spinning I may have had a little too much fun.
I didn’t like to feel out of control, which is why I’d never gotten drunk before. I may have been twenty-one, but I certainly didn’t act like it. When you have an addict for a mother, it tends to dissuade you from pursuing such forms of entertainment.
When I told Tom I was done drinking for the night, he didn’t look too pleased about it.
“C’mon, one more isn’t going to hurt.”
“She said no,” Matt warned. “So let it go.”
Tom held up his hands and sighed. “Okay fine, fine. You’re done drinking, I get it.”
He leaned forward on his elbows and slid a tiny bag of white powder across the table. “So how about something to take the edge off instead?”
Matt cracked his knuckles and leaned forward too, his biceps stretching the leather of his jacket to its breaking point.
“Are you f*cking kidding me right now?”
Nicole grabbed his arm, and something passed between them. She looked like she was pleading with him, but for what, I couldn’t understand.
“Don’t let Matt tell you what to do,” Nicole spoke in a wobbly voice. “If you want to try it, Brighton, I’ll do it with you.”
“What?” I stammered, my eyes darting to the powder as I shot up out of my seat. “No, I’m sorry, but I don’t… I think you have the wrong impression of me. I don’t do that stuff.”
Matt followed suit, his chair clattering behind him as he stared at Nicole with obvious disappointment. I retreated, only to back into a hard chest behind me.
I spun around with trembling arms and met the last person I’d been expecting to see there. Ryland braced me with his arms, staring down at me with the oddest expression. His entire body was tense, and yet his eyes were molten hot. The same heat I’d seen in them five years ago when he laid claim to my mouth with his.
For all my assertions of not having an addictive personality, I knew right then it was a lie. Because looking into the depths of those blue eyes was like free-falling a hundred stories. It was the ultimate high and I would do anything for it.
He pressed his hand to my back, helping me to regain my balance as I swayed on my feet. He was so tall I had to stretch my neck to look up at him, but I felt safe in his arms. My heart hammered against my chest when I caught the scent of his cologne and inhaled without shame.