“Spoilsport,” I grumble. But my head is already starting to spin, so I don’t have the energy to argue.
“I’ll repeat my question, Nico. What did I miss? What happened to you?” He looks around in alarm. “Did something go wrong with the sponsor?”
I snort, the pounding in my head increasing tenfold. “You mean the sponsor who’s seen my girlfriend naked?”
At that, his eyes widen. “Him and Scarlett?”
I tip my imaginary hat. “That would be the one.”
Lucas mutters a curse of his own and throws the shot back.
“Exactly what I said,” I mutter with a groan.
“Wait a minute. How did that even come up?”
I scoff. “If you’re asking from a business standpoint, don’t worry. The sponsorship is still intact. They’re sending it over in the morning for you to review.”
“I’m not asking because ofthat,” Lucas snaps, exasperated. “I’m just trying to figure out whatyou’redealing with. Was Scarlett here?”
I can only nod miserably.
“So, you brought Scarlett as your date and the sponsor recognized her. And then what?”
I stare at him in shock. “What do you mean,then what?He was her client!”
Lucas’s expression shifts to confusion. “So? You knew she was an escort.”
“It’s not just— Forget it, you wouldn’t understand.” I chug half of my water. “You hated that I was with her anyway.”
He sighs. “Nico, I didn’t hate that you were with her. I was just worried she was playing you.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Welp. Turns out, you were spot on.”
Lucas’s brow furrows as he spins the whiskey glass between his fingers. “It doesn’t make any sense. I saw you two together. That girl was smitten with you.”
I let out a drunk hiccup as I stand. “Well, that’s just where we are. I’m going to get out of here.”
“Where are you staying? You’re not going home, are you?”
I freeze as I’m pulling a few bills out to tip the bartender.Shit, I had planned to stay at Scarlett’s tonight.
Lucas sighs. “Alright, let’s just go back to my hotel. You can sleep this off and then figure out how to have an actual conversation with Scarlett tomorrow.”
“She won’t return my texts,” I mumble. “And I have no idea where she lives.”
He slaps me on the back and starts to lead me toward the exit.
“Lucky for you, I’m a problem solver.”
I wake up with the hangover from hell.
Groaning, I roll onto my back. Unsurprisingly, Lucas put me on the couch last night after I raided the mini bar in his room.
“Morning, sunshine,” I hear him call out from the kitchen area. “Sleep well?”
I can only summon the energy to flip him off in answer.
But it isn’t until I blink open my eyes and spot my suit draped across the nearby chair that all the memories from last night come flooding back.
