During the Thunderstorm (Natural Disaster) ✔

Chapter Twenty

When Thursday arrived, Cole was more energetic and charismatic than normal.

Everyone was gathered around the bar, ordering their drinks of preference while Cole was jumping in his seat.

Alex shot him a glare. "What's up with the bubbly face?"

Cole only smiled wider. "Fucking everything. Finish handing the drinks and I'll tell you the marvelous news."

Ally eyed the drink Alex was sliding toward Cole and pressed her lips. Was it a good idea to give him any more sugar? She was sure Cole would have a seizure from excessive energy. Maybe he'd explode confetti.

"Everyone has their drinks?" Cole asked, turning around to check. He beamed. Wait, were his teeth whiter?

Ally turned to look at every one of her friends. Alex was annoyed at the bubbly energy, killing his vibe. Cora was confused but was smiling softly at Cole. Rhys was shooting a skeptical look at his beer. Hunter was calm while Nina was unimpressed, wearing her stony face.

"Great," Cole cleared his throat, ready to deliver a huge speech.

For some reason, Ally's mind turned wild, and her eyes widened. "You found a girl and you're marrying her and not dying alone?"

"No, but that would be awesome," Cole answered with a chuckle. "Are you offering yourself?"

"No. Shouldn't you do this kind of deal with your best friends?"

"Marry Nina? God no. She would end up killing me and that would be more tragic than dying alone," Cole answered with an unconcerned look. Ally doubted his answer, after all, he had been glued to Nina's hip since they met first year of college, and they hadn't killed each other. Yet. There had been close calls.

Nina snorted. "That's right."

"I'm still dying alone. For now. But at least I'm dying as a millionaire," Cole went on. "Ladies and sucker balls, I'm officially an adult!"

Alex raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. "Growing hair under your armpits doesn't apply for adulthood."

Rhys chuckled at Alex's comment while Nina rolled her eyes. "He's an adult, not mature. Don't get mistaken." She added.

All this time, Cole ignored the remarks and smiled even wider. If that was possible. It was fascinating how large his lips could stretch. The composition of his face consisted of 85% lips and teeth, 10% indecent wiggle of eyebrows and winks, and the remaining facial hair.

"I got the job!" Cole announced and raised his beer. "I charmed their pants off. They couldn't resist me. They never had a chance."

Alex frowned. "At the hotel?" Then, turning to Hunter, Alex barked. "Did you tell them to hire the idiot?"

Hunter chuckled and shook his head. "Surprisingly the idiot did sweep HR off their feet."

"Nancy and Dora loved me," Cole reassured. "Everyone loved me, even the big boss, Daddy Wyndham."

Ally's eyes widened at the comment, and she flinched, shivering in distaste as images of Hunter's father in different states of nakedness invaded her brain.

Ew. Someone cut my ears off. And my eyes.

"Christ, don't know Hunter's dad and I'm traumatized," Rhys complained, wincing and closing his eyes.

"Me too," Hunter muttered, taking a large sip of his beer to mix with the acid taste of vomit in his throat. "Not cool, bro."

"You all pervert minds," Cole shook his head in disapproval like he hadn't traumatized everyone for the next 5 years. "Anyway, think of how fucking cool it'll be to work together. We can gossip with Dora and Nancy and get juicy stuff about the office, we can carpool to work and sing in the car, and then get coffee and donuts. And we can mess with Rupert from time to time."