Free Monitored (The White Coat Series Book 3) by D.D. Parker Page A

around me; instead he looked at his Rolex, Sadie pushing her face into Blake’s neck, suckling at his flesh like a drunk puffer fish. I was beginning to feel like the walls were becoming tighter around us, creeping in slowly but surely.
    “When do you play?” the pufferfish asked, coming up for air.
    “I’m on deck, so pretty soon,” he said, pumping his knees in anticipation.
    “Scared? Nervous? Anxious?” Sadie asked them rapid fire, barely taking a breath between questions. Alexander just rolled with the interrogation, knowing that she probably wasn’t even going to remember his answer.
    “I’ve got this,” he said, his confidence showing through again. I almost wanted to take my hand and run it through that thick head of hair that was now within my reach. I looked at Blake and wondered how he would react, the thought of him getting angry at Alexander was the only thing that stopped me. I didn’t want him to lose his job because Blake suddenly became jealous, although me being here was probably sign enough that something was going on.
    “Good. I’m -- we’re,” she corrected herself, “excited.” She hung an arm around Blake’s neck, keeping her from slumping forward. “Do you wanna give us a preview? Secret show?” She purred that last one, no doubt using one of the same tactics she would use on every other man. This woman was a maneater, even when she was piss drunk. She knew how to play her bait and I saw Alexander fall for it.
    It was Blake who stopped him. “Don’t worry about it. Keep your voice rested.”
    I brushed a strand of hair that had fallen to the side of my forehead. “It’s a sold out show.” I wanted to make myself noticed, I was the one who had the power in the situation. Or so I thought.
    I just didn’t account for the fact that I would sound like a proud mom gloating about her honor roll second grader. Alexander rolled with it though, like he did with everything else, and smiled at me. I found a strength in his gaze and realized that this situation may not be as bad as it seemed. If Blake would leave us well alone then Alexander could keep working for him until his music took off, which by the looks of it wasn’t too long from now.  
    But realization took me by the neck and swung me around the room like an emotional ragdoll. I was still pregnant and the father was still Blake.
    Sadie, a sudden burst of energy infused into her orange juice- vodka mix, shot up from the couch and walked, stumbled, over to my side. She took me by the hand and dragged me to the bar, sloppily grabbing a handle of Grey Goose and pouring most of it onto the counter with some of it falling into a shot glass.
    “This is for you girlie. You gotta loosen up. Girl’s night.” Her eyes bore into me, even through their drunken cloudiness. I kept my lips shut tight and shook my head.
    “Don’t be a little girl, come on. Shoot it back.”
    Had she never gotten taught about peer pressure? I could tell that Alexander took notice from the side of my eye, but I was surprised that Blake was the first to speak. “Leave her. Now, Sadie.” His voice was demanding, almost like he was telling his herding dog to heel at his side. I looked back towards Sadie, seeing his command sit in. I had a feeling that it would have normally worked, that Blake could usually keep her under control. But the alcohol was something he hadn’t accounted for.
    Now she just seemed pissed.
    “Take the shot or get out.” Her speech wasn’t slurred anymore, but it was dripping with venom. It took me totally by surprise. I should have realized that Sadie had been a spoiled little rich girl all her life, so when someone denied her something, even if it was just taking a drink, then her claws would come flying out.  
    “Woh, woh, no need for that.” Now Alexander was getting into the ring, standing up from the couch and putting a hand out between us. The universal symbol saying “calm the fuck down.”
    Sadie still wasn’t having