Page 57 of Hate You Up Close

“Lots of things,” I reply with a hint of annoyance in my tone “Too many things. My brain started to hurt after a while,” I scoff. “But, he asked for my number at the end of the night. He wants to take me to dinner when he gets back from his business trip next week.”

“Ohhhh shit,” Evie smirks, shaking her head.

“What?” I ask, genuinely confused. My brows furrow as her grin grows wider.

“You know what’s going to happen when this spreads around the office, right?” she clicks her tongue. “And itwillget around because our office is the biggest gossip mill in the stateof Texas.”

“What are you getting at?”

“You really don’t know?” she looks at me like I’m dumb, arching a brow.

“Not a clue,” I shake my head.

I don’t work on the same team as Zach, so I don’t get what the big deal is.

“Get ready for the wrath of Elliot Thompson,” she states. “He’s going to lose his shit when he finds out another guy at the company is taking you out.”

I narrow my eyes to little slits, even though I have a feeling her prediction is true.

Elliot is not so secretly possessive over me. Anytime he catches someone staring at me, he gives them a death glare that has them running in the opposite direction.

“I’m his assistant, Evie,” I retort. “Besides, he has no say in who I decide to spend my time with outside of work. Zach and I aren't even in the same department. There should be no issue.”

“There should be no issue,” she mocks. “Have you seen the way Elliot looks at you? That man is going to lose his shit, Roxy. Mark my words.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I shake my head. “And even if it does, he’ll just have to get over it. I’m a grown-ass woman, and I can date whoever the hell I want.”

“God, this is gonna be so good,” she claps. “I’ve been dying for some juicy office drama.”

I playfully roll my eyes at her.

My phone vibrates in my lap, lighting up the back seat of the Uber. I must be drunker than I thought because Elliot’s name flashes across my screen. I squint my eyes to get a better look.

Yup, it’sdefinitely him.

It’s almost two in the morning. Why in the hell is he texting me this late?

I unlock my phone and quickly read his message.

Don’t stop for coffee on Monday morning.

My boss is texting me about coffee in the middle of the night. Not weird at all.

Why are you texting me about coffee at 2:00 am?

Because I haven't been able to stop thinking about you.

Oh God. That’s definitely the whiskey talking.

He’s drunk. He’s definitely very fucked up because we both know he wouldn't say that kind of shit sober.

How much have you had to drink?

He avoids my question.

What are you doing up so late?

I went out tonight.