First Comes Love - Ashlee Price Page 0,65

me a side-hug. “Seriously, though. I’ve got you. Remember how you threw me a surprise party, then a birthday vacation to England after that asshole player dumped me via Snapchat?”

“Of course,” I say, side-hugging her back. “How we got a picture of him and burned it in that forest after too?”

Hannah sighs wistfully. “Oh yes, the craycation.”

“I could really use a vacation right about now,” I murmur, half to myself.

Hannah snorts. “You came back from Costa Rica literally a week ago.”

I wave my hand dismissively. “Details, details. Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready too, or am I hitting up Coda alone?”

“Who said we were going to Coda?”

“Where else do we go when we want to dance?”

“Point taken.” Hannah smiles. “Give me 10.”

Ten minutes later, we meet in the hallway.

“You look hot,” I tell her. “Is that the dress from—”

“The Most Handsome Man Alive?” Hannah nods. “You bet. Although I don’t know how much he would approve of its intended use tonight. We’re gonna get crazzyyyy!”

I laugh. While Hannah and I actually have gotten into some shenanigans while drunk, including climbing an interesting and tall fountain and attracting a small crowd to cheer us on, I have a feeling that tonight will be a little tamer. Sadness isn’t exactly an upper for me, even if I do get wasted.

Still, I don’t want Hannah to feel obligated to go out, either.

“You don’t have to come,” I tell her, “Really, it’s fine. I’m not even sure I should be going out at all.”

“You’re right.” Hannah nods her head in faux agreement. “Sitting around at home always makes me feel better after a breakup… not!” She grabs my hand. “Now let’s get going, hot stuff.”

I smirk. I’d forgotten how good this dress looked, how each of its bandage strips was basically painted on. “I’m ready when you are.”

The Uber ride to the club is quick, but once we get there, the line-up is snaking around the door.

Hannah marches us right up to the bouncer. “My friend just got dumped,” she tells the no-nonsense-faced doorman with a head like a bald pale battering ram.

“And I can do a pirouette,” I chime in helpfully.

The guy recrosses his arms, looking the textbook definition of ‘Don’t Fuck with Me’. “Oh yeah?”

I do the world’s worst rendition of a pirouette, then shoot the guy a winning smile. “Hell yeah?”

He chuckles, showing off painfully white teeth with a shake of his head before waving us inside. “Alright, alright. Just don’t do that again.”

I do another horrid pirouette once we’re inside, although the doorman’s attention is already elsewhere. Not that it really matters. I can already tell that it’s going to be a good night.

House and techno music blasts any stray thought out of my head, while the crowd looks more cool than douchey.

Hannah gets us some Caesars, and I down mine almost immediately, hardly tasting the tomatoey goodness. Tonight, I’m not drinking for the taste, after all.

She gives me a sympathetic side-eye. “That bad, eh?”

“I just…” I can feel the words bubbling in me, floundering angrily. “I didn’t see it coming, is all. I mean, I did and I didn’t.”

She nods sagely. “I understand perfectly.”

I have to laugh. “No, you don’t.”

She laughs. “No, I don’t. But Greyson is a jerk, whatever you think.”

“He’s just trying to protect the company—and me. If other media outlets pick up this story and it goes viral it could ruin my reputation and career. With me fired, the small story will probably blow over. I could still have a fighting chance. Greyson at least said he’d give me a glowing reference, recommend me to his friends.” Seeing Hannah’s dubious look, I shrug. “It’s the smart thing to do. What was stupid was for me to hook up with him in the first place.”

“You’re talking all logical, but looking all miserable,” Hannah says sympathetically.

“My head’s all sorted out,” I agree. “Now, if I could just get my heart on board…”

I get us a few more drinks and sip mine, shaking my head. “I’m just disappointed in myself, I guess. I thought I was this strong person who could just march through life without being thrown by anything. But how all the other people at work were shunning me, and now this, how hard it’s hitting me… it’s making me rethink all that. Maybe I’m not as invincible as I thought.”

Hannah’s hand on my shoulder is light yet reassuring. “Hey. None of us are as invincible as we thought.”

I sigh. “I know, Han. But it’s me—I