Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3), стр. 8

“This city’s too loud,” I murmured.

I looked back over at the mantle and sighed. I’d never been prone to missing people, but damn it, I missed my best friend. I turned away from the picture and snatched the empty beer bottle up from the couch as Bryce’s voice sounded in my mind.

You better recycle that thing, Stone.

I chuckled as I tossed the glass bottle into my green recycling bin. Bryce had always been earth-conscious. For him, it was his way of atoning for the sins we carried out as orders from our superiors. And it made me wonder if his contributions were enough to keep him from burning.

Like I thought we all would for some of the shit we’d done.

I heard my phone ding from my bedroom, and I never thought I’d be so happy to hear that sound. I charged out of my living room and headed straight into my bedroom, where I snatched my phone up from my bedside table. My bed frame creaked with anguish as I sat on the edge of my mattress. But, when I saw I had a text from Zane, every part of me went on alert.

Until I opened the message and saw what it really was about.

Zane: You’re missing a great birthday party, man. We’re still here if you want to come down.

I chuckled and shook my head before I closed out the message. I knew Roxy’s birthday was today, but I wasn’t sure if I was welcome at the party. I mean, I was her boss, for crying out loud. And they were at a casino. With drinks, and flashing lights, and anything else to mesmerize people into doing shit they didn’t normally do. I couldn't take that kind of chance with my first-ever full-time employee. I had to keep some boundaries with her.

But, when the deafening silence of my place swallowed me whole, I started undressing.

“Couldn’t hurt to stop by for a bit,” I murmured.

After exchanging one suit for another, I looked around my apartment. There were no pictures on the wall—no decorations in the corners. No flowers were sitting on my non-existent kitchen table. All I had were my clothes, which were still in bags; some dishes, which were still in boxes; and my television, which was still missing my video game console and my soundbar.

Yeah. I need to get out.

I gathered my things and headed out the door with anticipation filling my bones. I didn’t have to stay long, either. Just long enough to see how things were unfolding and make sure everyone was having a good--but safe--evening. After all, if Roxy didn’t want me there? If she got mad at my presence? I could always tell her I was working for the night. It was a holiday weekend for everyone else, but not for me.

So, with that in mind, I drove my bored ass to the casino.

I wasn’t far away from it, though. The studio apartment I had was downtown, less than a block away from The Strip. I could’ve walked there, had I chosen a different outfit. But, I didn’t want to sweat through my damn suit before I got there. That wasn’t a very appealing look, no matter what a man looked like. Besides, if I sweated through my suit, I wouldn't have a chance to use the ‘I’m working’ excuse of Roxy gave me any sort of guff for being there.

I parked in the very full parking lot and made my way inside. And while the waitresses tried shoving food and alcohol menus in my face, I simply waved them off. I wasn’t here to eat, or party, or drink. I was here to mingle, to see Roxy, and to try and get out a bit.

All I had been doing since I moved back here was work.

It didn’t take me long to spot her since her voice constantly rose above the crowd. Roxy had a big mouth on her, or so I was coming to find out. But, for me? That only added to how beautiful she was on a regular basis. She wasn’t a push-over, like most women. She stood up for what she wanted, even if she was a bit of a spoiled brat. I admired that in her. Her go-getter-take-no-shit attitude was exactly why I hired her to be my front desk secretary, and the first face people saw when they walked into my building.

But, it didn’t take long for her to throw back way too much to drink.

I watched her like a hawk as I slowly walked around the room. She jumped from roulette tables to blackjack to slot machines and back again. She had a wad of cash I knew wasn’t hers, but the real question was who the hell gave her that kind of money?

Did another man give her that?

The idea made me grind my teeth together.

I saw her leaning very close to a slot machine, and it almost made me rush over to her. It looked like she was about to fall out of her seat until the lights started flashing on top of the damn thing. My eyebrows rose as Roxy threw her fists into the air. She pumped them and hopped up, rejoicing and hopping around.

She was touting the fact that she’d just one five hundred big ones.

The sight made me grin. Though, I also wondered where everyone else was. I hadn’t spotted Brenden, or Zane, or their girls since I walked into this damn place over an hour ago. That made me angry. This was Roxy’s birthday, and she was rejoicing her win alone?

You’re not alone, Roxy. I’m here.

I watched her rip her winning ticket stub away from the machine before she pushed through the crowd of random onlookers. She stumbled on her feet as she made a beeline for the bar, and I knew she couldn't drink anymore. She had to slow down. She needed water, not another vodka tonic, or whatever the hell she’d been sucking