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“Stripping on the bartop? Really?” Gage says in a mock scolding tone.
Theo shrugs as he sips the drink. “You have to give the people what they want.”
“Is this what we missed when we didn’t come to the spa earlier?” Austin asks.
“Yup. I was butt-ass naked the entire time,” Theo jokes.
We all bust up laughing.
“How is the new puppy?” I ask Austin and Declan.
“A handful,” Austin mutters.
His husband elbows him and smiles. “Aww come on, you love her.”
Austin fights a smile, but it eventually breaks free. “Okay, yeah. I love her. I just didn’t anticipate that a four-month-old basset hound would be so much work. All we do is stay in and watch her.”
Declan raises an eyebrow at Austin. “That’s not all we do. We’re out tonight, aren’t we?”
Austin chuckles and ruffles his husband’s fiery red hair. “I guess you’ve got a point.”
Gage, Theo, and I chuckle at the two of them. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Theo’s hockey teammates waving at us from the other side of the packed pub at a standing table. We walk over to the tiny table. There’s a round of shots waiting for us.
We all grab the shot glasses, but I stop them to make a toast. “To Theo for almost getting us kicked out of the last bar on our bar crawl because he just had to jump on the counter and strip his clothes off.”
Theo pumps his fist in the air as we cheer him on. We down the shot. All of us wince.
“What the hell was that?” Gage asks, wiping his mouth.
Xander shrugs. “Gin. I think.”
Isaac pushes his shot away. “I can’t do gin anymore.”
Dylan grabs the shot and downs it. “More for me.”
Austin passes his shot to Dylan. Dylan thanks him and downs it.
Xander laughs. “Wow, dude. You’re drinking like a frat boy.”
“Or a new dad who has a night off.” Isaac laughs.
Dylan and his wife welcomed a new baby a few months ago. He’s stepdad to his wife’s daughter, who’s six, I think I remember him saying.
“Damn right,” Dylan says before downing the rest of his beer. He flags down a server and orders another round of shots.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. When I read the text from Tori, I smile.
Tori: Damn. I would pay good money to see you on that bartop taking off your clothes.
Me: You don’t have to pay. I’ll happily give you a show for free.
Tori: Really?
Me: Of course.
I watch as three bubbles appear on my screen and disappear, then appear again, then disappear again.
I’m instantly intrigued. What’s she working up the nerve to ask me?
