Alester rolls his eyes but hits a collection of keys that shuts down every computer, one after another. “There. I’ll just do it from home later.”
“Yes! Let’s go!” Ryder runs towards me, so I have to step out of the way.
“You’re a child,” I say.
“Eh, you like it.” He laughs and runs to the elevator. “I’m going to whoop Alester’s ass later in Call of Duty.No working for him.” He jumps in the elevator right as the doors open and tries to get the doors to close on us, but I jog over and shove my hand in the closing door.
“I don’t think so. Not today.” I hold the door for Alester.
“Asshole,” Alester mumbles.
“I’ll get you on Monday, just wait. It will be the stairs for the both of you.”
Thomas is waiting with the SUV when we exit the elevator. I was about to send him a text, but he always just knows somehow. “Thomas, did you put a tracker on me?” I joke.
He smirks. “No, not you. Just the wild one.” Thomas opens the back door, and I slide in. Alester climbs up front, he gets motion sickness and hates having to ride in the backseat. Ryder runs to the other side, not giving Thomas time to close one door before he’s diving into the vehicle.
“You’re extra hyper today,” I comment.
“Just wait until I get my food.” He wiggles his eyebrowsat me.
Fuck.
We drape our jackets on the backs of our chairs before we sit down. The temperature is dropping quickly in preparation for this big storm they’re promising. We aren’t getting excited about it, though, because weathermen are notoriously wrong with every winter storm.
The waitress drops off our drink orders shortly after we sit down when Ryder starts hitting on her. Alester and I share a knowing look because this isn’t out of the norm for him. We both tune him out, too used to the act he likes to put on.
Alester grunts and picks up his menu. I chuckle and pull out my phone, wishing I had a text from a certain someone who doesn’t even have my number.Stupid.
“So,” Ryder drags out when the waitress leaves to check on her other tables. “when are you going to ask out Alex, again?” Now he can remember her name.
I ignore Ryder and look at Alester. “Have any new dates coming up?”
He grunts again. “What is both of your obsession with dating all the time? You sound like a couple of teenage girls.” He takes a long drink of his beer.
“Ryder started it,” I grumble, looking for the waitress again so I can order my food.
“He’s not exciting,” Ryder huffs, turning to survey the room when his eyes light up. “But the fact that Alex and her friends just sat at that back booth is.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me while I try to discreetly glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, she is in the booth with her two friends from the apartment.Perfect.
“Just leave them alone. They don’t need your wild self in their space.” The waitress notices me looking for her and makes her way over.
“What can I get you?” She pulls out her notepad and pen.
Ryder pounces. “Besides your number? We will take three large pepperoni and sausage pizzas. Oh! And an order of garlic bread.” She laughs at Ryder, scribbles the order, then tears a portion of her page off and hands it to him before walking away. “Score.” He slips it into his pocket. “So, I’m going to go say hi to Ashlyn, if you’re not going to man up and head over there.”
“Dude.” Alester levels him with a glare.
Jesus.He starts to stand when I grab him. “Knock it off. I’ll go. You keep your ass here.”
“Ooooh, you’re going! Yes! You can invite them to sit with us if you want. I don’t mind.”
I resist the urge to throttle him. “I don’t think they need any of what you have to offer in their lives. Plus I have to get going soon.”
“Ahh, yes. Youcan’t just have time off like the rest of us. Always have to hustle.” He takes a drink of his beer.
He tries to lean on Alester, but Alester shoves him away. “You could come back to the office and help me go through more applicants.” Alester raises an eyebrow at him.
“Gross. It’s half-day Friday. Not happening.” Ryder scoffs and tries to act like his made-up schedule is a thing everywhere. He gets away with a lot, considering he finds most of the up-and-coming companies before they even think to find a marketing team. How he does it, we have no clue, but that’s why he can do what he wants. Most of our profit starts with his boots on the ground, so to speak.
