EMILY’S POV
My colleagues, who had been fighting for the mic just earlier, were now slumped in their seats, unable to stand. The table was littered with empty beer bottles, and nearly everyone was drunk, with Zander being the most intoxicated of all. He was the one accepting and downing shots that were passed to me. He said he didn't want to babysit me when I got drunk.
Zander had been extra sweet to me all night, hardly ever leaving my side, as if guarding me against Larkin's presence. I had a feeling that his care for me wasn't just an act, but a manifestation of his true feelings. I wasn't numb to the fact that he was waiting for me to learn to love him.
Meanwhile, Larkin remained quiet on the sidelines, only occasionally responding to the flirtatious advances of the women around him
