“Here, let me get that for you,” Alex spoke as he walked up behind me and zipped up my dress. His lips softly touched my bare shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“Are you ready? Traffic is a bitch at this time and Phillip is waiting for us downstairs.”

“Yep. I just need to put on my heels,” I spoke as I grabbed them and walked out of the room.

****

Alex

Man, Emerson was certainly PMS’ing tonight. I was worried that she got her period so soon, which also meant no sex for a few days and, after today, I needed her more than ever. I didn’t even care if she was on her period, but she did. I didn’t attempt to talk to her in the car because it seemed like everything I said was wrong and irritated her. So we rode to the club in silence.

A good friend of mine had opened a karaoke club and we were going to celebrate it. Adam had just met this girl named Renee a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce her to us. He told us that he really liked her and couldn’t wait for us to meet her. Climbing out of the Bentley, I held out my hand to help Emerson out. Surprisingly, she took it and climbed out.

“You look so sexy. Just looking at you is making me hard,” I whispered in her ear.

“Sucks to be you,” she responded, deadpan.

I sighed. This was going to be a fun night.

Chapter 39

Emerson

He had two chances to tell me and he didn’t, so I went into bitch mode. I didn’t want to be like that towards him, but I couldn’t help it. I was hurt. Deeply hurt. Hurt down to the core of my soul. If he was keeping seeing her a secret, what else was he hiding?

We stepped into the club and I saw Adam by the bar. Thank God. I needed a drink like yesterday.

“There’s Adam.” Alex pointed.

“I’m not blind,” I responded. Alex shot me a look.

The minute we approached the bar, Adam hugged me and shook Alex’s hand.

“Renee, this is my sister Emerson and her boyfriend, Alex Parker.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Renee smiled as we lightly hugged.

Alex leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I bet it was nice to meet her. And that kiss. Really? He couldn’t have just shook her hand?

“What do you want to drink?” Alex asked me.

“I’ll have a Cosmopolitan.”

Renee was a beautiful girl. She stood about five feet four inches with a petite figure, shoulder-length, blonde hair, and green eyes. She had a bubbly personality. She was the type of girl I could easily become best friends with. Too bad I was being such a bitch tonight, compliments of one Alex Parker.

“I’ll be right back. I see someone over there I need to talk to,” Alex spoke as he kissed my cheek.

Good riddance.

“What the hell is wrong with you tonight? You’ve been giving Alex stabby eyes since the minute you walked in,” Adam said as he lightly grabbed my arm.

“Period.”

“Enough said.” He rolled his eyes.

I didn’t realize I was giving stabby eyes. I’d better cool it. I didn’t want to start a scene in front of Alex’s friends. It wasn’t their fault he was such a douchebag. Finishing off my Cosmopolitan, I ordered another one. Renee and I talked a lot and I really liked her. Even though she and Adam had just met two weeks ago, I could tell they had really fallen for each other.

Alan, the club owner, got up on stage and began to speak.

“I want to thank everyone for coming here tonight to celebrate the opening of my brand new club. Let’s get this karaoke started!”

“Are you feeling okay?” Alex asked as he walked up to me.

“Yes. I’m feeling okay, but I’ll feel even better after another Cosmo.”

“I’ll get you one.” He smiled.

The four of us sat down as the first person got up and started to sing. Oh my God, he was awful and very drunk. It was quite entertaining.

“Here’s your drink, sweetheart.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you going to get up there?” he asked.

“I think I might.” I took a large sip of my drink.

As soon as the drunk guy finished and the alcohol kicked in, I got up from my seat and stepped up on the stage and began to sing “Ex’s & Oh’s” by Elle King. I found the song extremely appropriate. Everyone started clapping to the beat of the music. When I looked out into the audience, Alex was glaring at me. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. He wasn’t happy and I didn’t give a damn. Once the song was over, the crowd whistled and clapped. Instead of leaving the stage, I sang the song “Boston” by Augustana. Once I finished, I stumbled back to the table and sat down. Alex lightly grabbed hold of my arm.

“What the fuck were those songs about?” he asked sternly.

“They’re just songs. What the hell is your problem?” I glared at him.

“We’ll talk about this later.” He turned away from me and I noticed Adam and Renee staring at me.

I shrugged and Adam narrowed his eyes at me. I finished off my third Cosmo, started on my fourth, and Alex got up and went to talk to Alan. Getting up from my seat, feeling a bit dizzy, I went up to the bar and asked the sexy bartender to line up two shots of tequila. I threw them back one right after the other and Adam walked up to me.

“What are you doing? I think you’ve had enough to drink.”

“Come on, big brother, where’s your fun? Have another shot of tequila with me!” I shouted.

“Seriously, Emerson. You’re done.”

“What’s going on over here?” Alex spoke harshly.

“She’s drunk off her ass, Alex. You better get her home. She just downed two shots of tequila.”

“Can you walk?” Alex asked me.

“Yes,” I slurred.

The look on his face was angry as he lightly took hold of my arm. “Let’s go.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you as long as you have that attitude.” I wiggled out of his grip.

“Emerson, I’m not playing games. Let’s go home. Please.” He held out his arm.

I hooked my arm in his and tried to make my way through the club. After stumbling a couple of times, Alex picked me up and carried me to the Bentley.

“What were you thinking in there? You normally don’t drink like that.”

“Can’t a girl have a little fun?” I slurred.

“Yes, but not as a sloppy drunk.”

“Okay. You win. Everything is spinning and I need you to be quiet.”

“Trust me. I will be.” He turned and looked out the window.

I laid my head against the window and closed my eyes.

“Phillip, how much longer until we’re home?”

“About twenty minutes, Emerson.”

Fuck. The movement of the car was making me sick. I heard the gates open and I opened my eyes. Thank God we were home. Alex climbed out, opened my door, and helped me out.

“Come on. Let’s get you to bed.” He picked me up and carried me as I laid my head on his chest.

“Please don’t walk so fast. I’m going to be sick.”

“I know. That’s why I’m trying to get you upstairs to the bathroom.”

When we reached the bedroom, he set me down on the bed. “Are you okay for now or do you need to get to the bathroom?”

I fell over and moaned when my head hit the pillow. I could feel the alcohol make its way up my throat.

“Bathroom! Now!”

I put my hand over my mouth and he hurried me to the bathroom. I gripped the sides of the toilet as he held back my hair.

“I really can’t believe you drank so much. We’re going to have a long talk about this in the morning.”

“You really want to go there, Alex?” I spoke in between vomiting.

“Shh. No more talking.”

Once I was finished, Alex helped me up, unzipped my dress and let it fall to the ground. Helping me back to bed, he sat me up and quickly pulled my nightshirt over my head.

“Lie down and sleep it off,” he spoke in an irritated tone.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” My head hit the pillow.

****

Alex

Perfect end to a shitty day. What the hell was she thinking? I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into bed. I was really pissed off at her and her behavior. And what the fuck were those songs about? I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what the hell was going on with her. The one thing I did know was that she better be prepared to explain herself in the morning.