Headlines (Prime Time #3) - Ella Frank Page 0,46

he leaned into me and said, “You’re going to let me pay you for that meal.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Sean, that dinner had to be well over—”

“Shh.” I wrapped an arm around Xander’s shoulders, and tugged him into my side. “It’s all taken care of.”

“No. No. They invited us for dinner. I’m not letting you—”

“I already worked it out with the kitchen staff,” I said as I walked us toward our Uber. “They said I should have it worked off by the end of next month.” Xander stopped and glared at me. I grinned, opened the car door, and gestured inside. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Sean, I’m not letting you pay for dinner,” he said as he walked to the open door.

“Pity there’s nothing you can do about it.” I took his chin in my hand and pressed a kiss to his lips. “And just so you know, I’d work ten years in a kitchen washing dishes if it meant winning over your parents.”

Xander stared at me with disbelief in his eyes. “You’re about to get really lucky tonight.”

He slid inside the car, and I followed him. “Then my plan was a complete success. Let’s go home.”

24

Xander

“HEADS UP, HENRI and Bay are on the elevator.” Sean’s words were for my ears only as he kissed my temple and passed me a scotch on the rocks.

It was Sunday night, and my birthday was well underway. It always amazed me what fantastic organizational skills my mother possessed, because how she’d managed to put together a party in only a couple of days was mind-blowing.

The food was delicious, the drinks never-ending, and the smooth sounds of jazz complemented the low hum of chatter throughout the apartment. This was the kind of get-together I usually thrived at. But no matter how hard I tried to relax into tonight and enjoy it, I was on edge.

It was weird enough being back at my place for the first time in forever. But add in the anticipation of Bailey appearing in my hallway at any moment, and the nerves and apprehension I’d managed to keep at bay for the past couple of days came rushing back with blinding force.

This was ridiculous—it was just Bailey, for heaven’s sake. I’d known the guy nearly my entire life. But the problem was that all of the good memories had since been replaced by one I couldn’t seem to shake—the last time I’d seen him, and the devastation on his face.

“Hey.” Sean bumped his shoulder into mine. “Don’t look so worried. It’s your birthday. Everything’s going to be great.”

“You’re right.” I took a sip of my drink and nodded, trying to shove aside any negative thoughts. My mom had gone to a lot of trouble tonight with a gold and silver theme throughout. She’d turned my apartment into a classy, elegant palace, and I refused to ruin that by having a horrible panic attack like at work a few weeks back.

“Of course I’m right. We’ve got enough food here to feed half of Chicago, and enough alcohol to wash it all down with. Your friends and family are happy to see you up and about, and you are looking really fucking hot.”

I smiled and glanced over at the chocolate fondue fountain, where Ryan and his date were trying to decide between the fruits or sweets to cover in the good stuff. I had to agree with Sean: tonight really was going great, and it was nice to see everyone away from work for a change. We were always so busy down at the newsroom, and the only time we ever really got to relax was at a work event.

So this was nice. It was informal, feel-good, and stress-free.

“So, this is where the birthday boy is hiding out.”

Henri Boudreaux, I’d recognize that easygoing, relaxed drawl anywhere. It was distinctive in the way that you didn’t expect it from him. A badass by nature, and bad boy due to his upbringing, it still shocked me that the good boy—Bailey—had ended up with him. But now more than ever, I understood that opposites really could attract.

Sean and I turned to see Henri standing behind us with Bailey by his side, and a breath that I hadn’t even realized I was holding left me in a rush. Bailey looked good. His hair was buzzed short, and in dark jeans and one of the light blue button-downs he favored, he looked like my best friend—the Bailey I knew.

“You found me. Hey, Bailey.”

Bailey’s hand tightened around Henri’s, and then he