“You are sure no one will notice any of this is gone?” I say to Oliver

“Nah, I do all the counts and stock so I will just write off a few bottles. Besides they are like a multimillion dollar hotel so I think they can afford it” he tells me as he begins to pull bottles off the shelves.

“Isn’t ollie so sweet?” Vee says while booping his nose. Olivers hand comes up to swat her away as he says

“Its Oliver, Ollie sounds like a child's name” he says this while huffing

“Ok whatever you say Ollie” Vee shoots back smiling

I think Oliver has given up because he just reaches into a crate lying on the floor and pulls out 3 wine glasses.

“Sorry this is all we have, anyone up for some really fancy tequila shots?” I chuckle and find a spot to sit on an overturned crate. Both Vee and Oliver copy my motions as he begging to pour 3 heavy hands of tequila.

“So Vee, tell us more about yourself” Vee says as Oliver passes one of the wine glasses to both me and her.

“Uh, there is not much to tell, what do you want to know” I say while taking a whiff of the clear liquor in my cup

“Wellll, I saw you chatting it up with Liam Huxley, what’s all that about?” Vee asks smiling

“Jesus going right in” it takes me a second to register that she just mentioned his entire name

“Sorry uh do you know him?” I ask her confused

“He has been to a few of these things with various scientist before, me and him were one of the only ‘kids’ who attend so we became sort of friends out of necessity” Vee explains

I decide to down my drink before answering her question

“Yea we are uh, coworkers I guess” I say gesturing my glass to Oliver so he can fill it back up

“Oh after that response I definitely believe you” Vee says as a grin spread across her face

I take my glass back from Oliver and gesture between the two of them. “Uh huh ok so what's going on with you two then?” I say trying it ignore the sting in my throat

“Well-” Oliver starts but Vee cuts him off

“Me and Ollie? No we have been like best friends forever, to be honest i'm still shocked he puts up with me” I look at Oliver while she says this and see his face drop the slightest bit

“Yea what she said” Oliver says before downing his glass

I hear my phone vibrate beside me and pick it up to look at my screen, its was of course a message from Huxley

‘Where did you go’

I don’t even think about answering and instead set my phone back down and swallow another huge gulp of tequila.

“What was that?” Vee says pointing at my phone and then back at me

“Nothing” I say as no chalant as possible

“Ok” is all she says, realizing I don’t want to talk about it

“Lets makes this fun” she then pipes up

“Let's play, never have I ever!” Vee squeals

Me and Olive share a worrying look but eventually agree to it anyway

After about an hour of us playing never have I ever I think it's safe to say we are all extremely plastered. I remember hearing my phone go off a few times but I never bothered checking it. Finally my phone starts to ring again and before I can grab it Vee snatches it up and swipes to answer.

“Hell-ooooo” she says slurring her words

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Who is this” I can hear Huxley’s deep voice come from the phone

“Wellll who issss thissss” Vee responds with a slight giggle

“Where is Raelyn?” He responds a little more urgently than before

“Ughhh is this Liam?” Vee sighs

“Um yes?” he says confused

“It’s Vee you grumpy pantssss” she chuckles

“Vee?”

“Yessss dummy, we stole Raelynnnn” she says looking back at me

“Are you in the closet?” he asks

“Nooooooo” she says failing miserably at sounding convincing

“I'm coming” he says and hangs up the phone

Vee chuckles and throws my phone back at me before leaning on Oliver for support. I think I got most of that conversation but I was incredibly drunk and seeing double. From what I could make out it was Huxley on the phone and he was coming here? He was coming here. I felt myself immediately sober up and shoot off the crate I was sitting on. I then realize I am still immediately drunk and start to topple over. As I feel myself falling to the group I hear the door swing open and I then feel a set of strong arms around me as I am being hauled up to standing position.

“Really?” is all huxley said directing his expression at Vee

“What? She said she needed a drink” Vee shot back shrugging her shoulders

“Hi Oliver” Huxley said giving a nod in his direction

“Hey man, I’m gonna get Vee back to her room. You good?” Oliver responded

“Yea we will be fine” Liam responded

I then felt my legs being sweeped out from under me and Huxleys hands resting on my lower back and the crook of my knees effectively carrying me out of the storage closet.

“put mee down” I said slurring my words

“You are so drunk” he said chuckling slightly

“Did you just laugh?” I said again while lifting my hand and patting, more like lightly slapping the side of his face.

“Okay. maybe we keep our hands to ourselves” he says as he removes my hand from his face

“Why?” I ask pouting

“You can’t tell me you don’t like it” I say as I move my hand back up but this time train my fingers across his chest

“Raelyn” he said quietly

“Ughhh stop saying my name Huxley” I say throwing back my head

“Why?” he asks, a little hurt and confused. As my head is dangling back I realize that we are finally back in the elevator and on the way up.

“I thought you were driving me home?” I say looking back up at him

“Tomorrow” is all he says. It looks like he is about to say something more but the elevator doors open on our floor and he walks out. By the time he gets the door open and walks into our room I can barely keep my eyes open. I feel myself being set on a soft surface and crack my eyes open to see Liam setting me on the one bed.

“No I can take the floor, it's your room anyways” I say sitting up and feeling immediately sober. For real this time.

“Raelyn.” I can see his face shift to panic

“Sorry uh Anderson, i'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor” he responds

“Now we are back to Anderson?” I say trying not to let the hurt show in my face

“What do you want from me? You just told me not to call you Raelyn and now your saying this.” he takes a deep breath and sits on the end of the bed looking defeated

“That's not what I meant when I told you not to call me Raelyn.” I say crawling towards him

He looks up as I am settling into a kneeling position beside him.

“What did you mean?” he says finally looking into my eyes. I sigh defeatedly

“It just sounds so different when you say it, like no one else will ever be able to say it like you do” I think, no I know this is the many shots of tequila talking because there is no way I would say this sober.

“Oh” is all he says. I flop backward on the bed and sigh

“Oh? That's it?” I say slightly annoyed

“Raelyn” he says as he grabs my hand and pulls me back into a sitting position

“Take the bed, I will be fine I promise” as he says this I now realize I am staring at him, like full out

“We can make a wall” I blurt out

“What?” he says obviously confused

“With pillows I mean. Like on the bed” not sure where that came from or why I am suggesting to SHARE this bed with him. My sober mind knows I should have just accepted his first offer and passed out on the bed but apparently my drunk mind will not have that.

“Oh” he says turning slightly red

“Please” is all that came out of my mouth. I then turn around and start to make a pillow wall down the middle of the bed.

“See there” I say, turning back to him. His eyes were stuck on the spot my ass just was and when I cleared my throat his eyes return to my face.

“Ugh I need to get out of this dress it's so uncomfortable” I now realize how drunk I really am because I reach my hands behind my back and quickly undo the zipper that was holding my dress on my body. It drops very quickly so I am only in my bra and the dress is pooled around my knees. I see Huxley’s head snap in the opposite direction in order to avoid looking at me. Wow so apparently I am that repulsive that he won't even look at me. I see him bend down and reach into his suitcase. He then pulls out a big grey shirt and tosses it in the direction i’m sitting.

“For the love of god please put your clothes back on” he says through gritted teeth

“Whoops” is all I respond with as I pull the shirt over my head. By the time Huxley turns back around I am tucked under the covers and drifting to sleep. I was trying to remember why I was suspicious of this man who carried me upstairs and let me sleep in his hotel room bed. Maybe I was stupid for thinking he was up to something. My brain finally goes dark as I drift into a deep sleep.