Progress (The Progress Series) by Amy Queau Read Free Book Online Page A

Paulina gasped.
    Angie came around to the table. “It is crazy here. I’m making so much money!” She wiped her brow and looked down. “Oh, hey Charlie, you look…great! Wow! Can I get you a drink?”
    “Thanks. Yeah. Iron Butterfly on the rocks,” Charlie said with a smile. “Are you guys wai ting for anyone?”
    “Yes, Troy said he’d stop by.” Paulina blushed. “And Paris and Tanya are meeting us here, too.”
    “Yeah, and I’m waiting for Dom to get off work,” Marco said.
    “Do you mind if I sit with you for a while then? Just until they get here?”
    “Of course you can! You can stay all night if you want. It’s a party!” Paulina’s words were starting to slur. “Are you losing weight? You look skinny tonight.”
    “I don’t know. I refuse to weigh myself.” But Charlie knew. She had weighed herself that morning. Twenty-two pounds gone altogether, and I am about to eat my own arm. I’m so hungry.
    Three iron butterflies later, Charlie had met her drink quota for the night. Any more and she’d not be able to drive home. She sipped on a water quietly, keeping her eyes locked on the patio door.
    All night, fellow employees were stopping by the table to compliment Charlie on her new look. A few of them didn’t recognize her at first, which she didn’t know if she should take as an insult or not. Do I normally look really bad?
    Her fuzzy head was sobering quickly, so she ordered a beer and sipped it. It was now eleven o’clock and the party was going to end at midnight.
    Where are you?
    Finally, at eleven-thirty she caught a glimpse of him through the bar windows. She sat up straight and crossed her legs, trying to get comfortable. Come out to the patio. Come out to the patio. Come out to the patio, she repeated to herself, willing him to come out and see her. She was sure she’d get a reaction from him.
    Jesse slapped the patio door open and it was impossible to ignore his presence. Everyone at the party stopped and turned to see who was making the scene. Jesse was drunk.
    Very drunk.
    Charlie let out a sigh and suddenly knew that this was a bad idea. Their eyes locked and he walked over to their table, sloppi ly sat down next to Paulina. Putting put his arm around her, he ignored her boyfriend, Troy, sitting next to her. Charlie closed her eyes.
    “Hey, Paulina. How ya been?” Jess whispered in her ear.
    Paulina tried to pull away and had a displeased look on her face as she pleaded with her eyes for Troy to help her.
    Picking up the hint, Troy cut in. “Whoa, easy there buddy,” he said.
    “Buddy? My name is Jesse.” Jesse turned and stared at Charlie and his eyes shifted from drunk to sorrowful. He blinked twice and looked down in thought.
    “Jesse? Isn’t that a girl’s name?” Troy laughed at his own little joke.
    Jesse stood up and kicked his chair back onto the cement. He stood trying to preserve his dignity in a defensive pose.
    “A girl’s name? Original. Why don’t we step out into the parking lot and show you how much this girl can kick your ass!” His volume increased and he didn’t seem to care that the entire patio was staring at him. Again.
    “It’s fine. Just sit down. We’re all friends here,” Troy said, trying to smooth out the tension.
    Jesse looked again at Charlie and sat down again quietly.
    Charlie slowly relaxed and tried to remain calm despite the fact that she had a sinking feeling about what would happen next. But she didn’t say a word and waited for someone else to trigger his anger.
    “Hey guys!” Ad am came out to the patio spotting the table of employees.
    “Hi Adam!” Paulina said a little too loudly.
    “Hey, oh my god – Charlie! You look good, girl. Whatcha dressed up for?” Adam asked.
    “Me.” Jesse spoke before she could answer. Her head whipped around with her eyes wide. “She dressed up for me tonight. Didn’t you Charlene?”
    Charlie glared at him, her mouth agape. The bastard is just toying with me.
    “Hey Jess, there