See you tomorrow! ;)

45.

Drinks after work ends up being a group thing.

After my kiss with Edward, I don't think I'd have it in me to sit here, pretending with Jared.

At eight, Edward walks into the bar, surprising everyone.

He makes some junior associate who's sitting next to me move. Lauren looks at me, mouthing, "what the fuck?"

I shrug.

"What are you doing here?" I'm blunt.

His tie is loosened; his sleeves are rolled up.

He looks fucking good.

"I can be one for camaraderie," he drawls.

I quirk a brow, unconvinced. "Since when?"

"Since… now."

He orders a whiskey, neat.

46

"What're you doing here?" Jared's hovering.

It's the question of the hour, it seems.

"Heard Bella would be here," Edward tells him, swigging from his glass.

For fuck's sake.

Jared's eyes dart suspiciously between the two of us. "Thought there wasn't anything going on?"

"There's not," I lie. "He's joking. Edward has a terrible sense of humor."

Edward drains his whiskey as Jared backs off, walking to the other end of the table.

I don't blame him for not wanting anything to do with this hot mess.

"I scared your boyfriend away." Edward's words are sour.

I think he's jealous.

47.

I scoff. "Jared's not my boyfriend."

"Yet you checked with HR to make sure you could date him."

Jealous.

I finish my wine. "I lied about that, okay?"

Edward glares. "What?"

I glance around the table and realize everyone sitting near us has migrated to the opposite end or left altogether.

"You scared everyone away," I accuse.

He doesn't seem to care. "Why'd you lie about HR?"

I look at him. "You were coming at me about Jared being my date. You pissed me off."

"We finally have something in common," he says, amused, spinning his empty glass.

"What—mutual hatred?"

48

"Sure. Mutual hatred," he agrees, a bit clipped.

It makes me smile.

"We need an outlet for all of this hate, don't you think?" he asks leisurely, like he's bored.

"Thinking really awful things about you usually does the trick for me," I admit.

He grins. "Think about me often?"

Yes.

Unfortunately.

I neither confirm nor deny this.

"I had another idea in mind," he murmurs, leaning in.

Everyone's staring at us.

I know what this must look like.

I change the subject. "Are you gonna order another whiskey?"

"No." He surveys the bar, unimpressed. "Let's get out of here."