Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“Remind me to give Mr. Abrams the Christmas cookies later,” I told Mya as I headed into the elevator. He hadn’t been in his office when I’d made rounds at lunch, and I didn’t feel like lugging the cookies with me to the party.
I had no pockets in this outfit.
“You’re a dork.” Mya reapplied her lipstick in the mirror, and Kim was still eyeing me with laughter in her eyes.
“You act like you’ve never seen a naked guy before, babe.” I threw an arm around Kim’s shoulders and smooched her cheek. “And we both know that’s not true.”
Who could forget that she’d gotten caught with not only one but two guys in a supply closet last year?
Computer girls were the best of freaks.
“No, I act like it’s going to be hysterically embarrassing to see you prance around naked in front of our bosses,” she corrected me and pushed up her glasses. “I suggest you have at least four drinks before you face any of them.”
Her advice wasn’t bad. Even I had limits, and I could admit I’d already planned to stay in the back of the party when Mr. Abrams made his appearance.
But until then…
The elevator doors opened once we’d reached the sixth floor, and I immediately felt my mouth twisting into a grin. The only upside to getting off work fifteen minutes later than everyone else, the party was in full swing when we arrived.
The usual brightness in the cafeteria had been dimmed and replaced by disco lights and more Christmas decorations—not to mention loud music. The effect it had on me was instant. Energy buzzed through me, and I ushered my ladies straight to the cafeteria.
“Oh my God, Parker!” One of the chicks from the social media department laughed and hurried over with a tray of what looked like Jell-O shots. “I didn’t believe Henric when he told us.”
“Believe it.” I grinned and snatched two cups right away and threw them back. Oh God—candy-cane-flavored shots. Not their best idea. “Wait—I need two more. Fuck.” I coughed and screwed my eyes shut as I tossed back my third. Jesus. They definitely didn’t skimp on the vodka.
All right! I was ready to show my moves on the dance floor. And hopefully not get my feet mangled in the process. Henric could’ve at least let me keep my shoes on.
This party, no matter how energetic it was upon entry, desperately needed Kim and me. She was the only one I’d known before I started working here. We’d gone to high school together in DC, though we hadn’t been friends at the time. Then, all random-like, we’d run into each other when we’d auditioned for the same dance squad in LA.
It was the reason I’d moved here. Plus, my sister had already been in LA a year by the time I’d arrived, so I hadn’t had to go through the whole “Shit, I gotta live in my car before I find a place.”
“All right, let’s show ’em how it’s done,” Kim said.
She was the best dance partner a guy could ask for. She could be a backup dancer to the stars if she didn’t prefer working in web design. To the upbeat tune of OneRepublic’s “Run,” we carved out our own space on the dance floor, and it didn’t take long before the thirty or so people around us wanted to watch us instead.
I guessed my wearing nothing but a pair of tight briefs made it more interesting…
We danced like Justin Timberlake, like Usher, and like the queen herself, Britney.
Kim fell back, feigning a drop, right before we grabbed each other’s hands, and then I pulled her forward again so she could do a full flip around my arm. That was how we got the cheers. And all the booze we wanted. We laughed breathlessly as the song faded into another and accepted shots that maybe weren’t as bad as I’d originally thought.
“Pictures!” someone hollered over the music.
I didn’t know why they announced it. People were taking pictures of their drinks, with their friends, of those dancing, and of themselves all over the place.
“Don’t forget to use the hashtag, people!” someone else yelled.
A few of us found a table in the back of the cafeteria and spent the next hour doing more shots and speculating wildly about this year’s gift from corporate. They all knew I’d designed the logo, but I wasn’t going to blab.
“It’s another beach towel, isn’t it?” Trina slurred.
“Could be.” It wasn’t. I actually loved this year’s gift. For once, I planned on using it.
“Hey, everyone!”
I squinted toward the booming voice near the exit of the cafeteria. It was Henric.
“Time for Santa’s speech upstairs!” he announced.
Oh, my grumpy grinch in a Santa costume. I was so ready.
As I stood up, I was hit by vertigo, and I started laughing. “Holy shit.” Now I felt the shots. “I’mma hold on to you, Mya.”