Page 200 of Faking the Goal

"How long ago did the five minutes start?"

She narrows her eyes at me. "I don't appreciate the implication behind that question."

I smile and glance toward the cart beside her. There are only a few books left on it, so apparently she really has been working despite what I walked in on. "Fine. I believe you."

"You should. I'm an excellent employee." She looks back down at the page she was reading. "Possibly employee-of-the-month material."

"You've barely been here a month."

"Exactly. My rise has been meteoric."

I shake my head, watching her finish whatever she's reading before another small smile pulls at her lips. "You want to go out tonight?"

That gets her attention. Her eyes immediately lift from the page. "Go out where?"

"The guys are at La Playa tonight having drinks. We can meet them there." I pause. "Or we can go somewhere else if you'd rather. Doesn't matter to me."

"No, La Playa sounds fun." She perks up almost immediately, closing the manga around one finger. "I've been seriously parched lately. I could use some fuel."

"Fuel?"

"Yes, fuel. Alcohol is basically what keeps my social battery operational."

"I'm pretty sure that means your battery is defective."

She gives me an offended look. "Excuse you. My battery works perfectly fine. It just requires premium."

I laugh. "Expensive and high-maintenance. Sounds about right."

"Quality machinery usually is, Ken-chan."

"Of course."

She closes the manga properly this time and slides it back onto the shelf before reaching for the few books still sitting on the cart. "Lucky for you, I'm almost done anyway. I just have to shelve these, and then I'm free for the night."

I look at the small stack. "Want help?"

"Nah, I got it."

"It'll be faster with two." I push myself off the floor and reach for a couple of books from the cart before she can argue. "Where do these go?"

She smiles and points me toward one of the shelves. "Over there."

For the next few minutes, I help her finish up so we can head out.

By the time we've been at La Playa for a little over an hour, Taylor and Luke are standing in front of the dartboard arguing over which one of them is worse at darts.

They're both drunk enough that the answer is becoming increasingly difficult to determine.

I sit at one of the high-top tables with Cody and Liam, nursing the same beer I ordered when we got here while Taylor squints at the dartboard like narrowing her eyes will somehow improve her aim. I told her she could drink as much as she wanted tonight. I'm driving anyway, and after everything she's been dealing with lately, I want her to have a few hours where she can relax and have fun without worrying about anything else. I'll stay sober enough for both of us.

Taylor pulls her arm back and throws.

The dart hits the wall several inches to the left of the board.

Luke doubles over laughing. "Holy shit. You fucking suck."

"Oh, shut up." Taylor turns around and points accusingly at him. "Your last one hit the floor."