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And I found myself feeling offended and angry.
He’s just drunk.
I bit my tongue instead of going off. There was no point in arguing with Eli when he was this wasted. The party had barely started, anyway.
Good riddance.
I shook my head as I walked away from him, leaving him there with his drunk words and model of a bartender, who was apparently just waiting for me to leave.
Figures.
Sipping on my water, I made my way through the crowd to the edge of the roof, stopping at the railing. I scanned the beautiful New York City skyline, taking it all in. There was a time when I would’ve thought that NYC had a certain air of magic about it—that it was full of opportunity—and maybe I’d still think that had I not just kept failing over and over. Every time, I was left to pick up the pieces on my own too.
Just like I can raise my baby on my own.
I nodded at the thought, and somehow that brought me relief. I mean, yeah, Owen had helped me land the job with Whiss Productions, but the relationship I had forged with Harlee was all my own doing.
I can do this on my own.
Breathing in the night air, I took in the skyline one more time and smiled, my hand trailing to my stomach. Whatever was going to happen, I’d be okay with it. I had overcome the mortification of being left at the altar—I could handle being a single mom.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you, girl.” Zena’s hand landed on my shoulder. “I brought you a water, but it looks like you took care of yourself on that.” She laughed lightly, sitting the plastic cup of water on the edge of the parapet railing. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “It really is. I just never thought that I would end up back in New York City. I always thought that Los Angeles would be the answer for me.”
“Ah, yeah, I get that.” She gave me a sympathetic look. “But I think you’re doing an amazing job here. I wouldn’t be surprised if you found the option to go back to LA whenever you wanted to—especially after working with Harlee the way you have.”
“Thanks,” I said, hesitating before I continued. “Can I tell you something—and you promise to keep it between us?”
She raised an eyebrow at me but nodded. “Of course. We’re friends above everything else—unless you’re stealing or something,” she added with a laugh.
I blew out a sharp breath. “I talked to Harlee about finding something for me back in Los Angeles, and I didn’t tell Eli about it.”
Zena pursed her lips for a second before speaking. “I don’t think that’s really a big deal, do you? I mean, people look for jobs outside of the one they have all the time. I don’t think that’s something to stress about.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “I’d miss you though.”
“I’d miss you too.”
16
ELI
Fuck me.
My head was pounding as I leaned against the wall of my office. Owen’s birthday had led to a fucking bad habit of going out every single night—all to forget Olivia, which was impossible considering I was met with her face five days a week. Owen’s words hung heavy in my brain, though I took them with a grain of salt.
Olivia is a grown-ass woman.
And not once had she made it out to be like we were anything more than just a fling, right? I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I pushed myself off the wall of my office and headed for my water bottle sitting on the desk. I swept it up and drank the cool water, hoping that it would help with the headache.
Hangover from hell.
I gulped it down, all the while still pondering on why Olivia and I couldn’t continue our sex fling. I mean, maybe if I gave myself permission to just go after her fully, I would get over it faster. The forbidden aspect of the relationship would be over, even if it went against office policy—which I had put in place.
So I can change it whenever I want to.
Walking around to my desk chair, I plopped down, feeling like there was a war in my head. There wasn’t one solid reason why I couldn’t pursue a little sex fling with Olivia...
Except breaking her heart.
