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“Jesus, Jack. Downer much?” Caleb groans. “It’s a fucking party, dude! No shop talk.”
“Well, one of us has to think about these things. Not everyone lives like you, free of all responsibility. I’ve got a wife and two daughters to consider, so excuse me if I’m a little concerned,” Jack grumbles.
Of course, Caleb, being Caleb, makes a show of pressing his open palm on his mouth while pretending to make farting noises.
“God, you’re a child.” Jack shakes his head, but there’s a little smile on his lips.
“And you’re an old fart. Hence the sound I just demonstrated.”
“Be nice, boys. I didn’t get a babysitter and dolled myself up just to spend the night watching you bicker. I get enough of that at home, thank you very much,” Erin says with a smirk. “Now, Nate, where is this matchmaker of yours? I’ve been trying to spot her since we got here. I want to thank her for going along with my plan, but I don’t see her anywhere.”
Same here.
“She must be running a little late,” I reply, looking at the bartender behind the bar and ordering a beer.
“I thought you told me she was Piper’s bestie?” she questions, confused.
“She is. But she’s also been super busy lately. I’m sure she’ll walk through the door any minute now.”
And as if the devil himself heard me, in walks Lottie—looking like sin incarnate—in a red dress that is sure to make an appearance in my dreams tonight.
But she’s not alone.
Walking in beside her, looking like one of those assholes you see on Wall Street, is her boyfriend, Cooper.
Fuck.
“Is that her?” Erin asks, following my gaze. “Oh, my gosh. It is. I recognize her from the picture in the paper. But who is that with her?”
“Her boyfriend, I think,” I grumble.
“Oh.” Erin frowns. “Pity. She’s even prettier in person.”
“She’s not pretty. She’s perfect,” I hear myself whisper.
“Aw shit, you have a crush!” Caleb laughs beside me.
“Fuck off,” I mutter, turning my back to grab my beer bottle from the bartender and take a long swig out of it.
“You do,” he snickers. “Don’t even try to deny it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mumble despondently while keeping my back turned away from the loving couple.
Yeah.
No way will I be able to look at that all night.
Not sober, at least.
“Sure, you don’t,” he goads. “If you don’t have the hots for her, then turn around. I dare you.”
“Leave him alone, Caleb,” Jack warns.
“And what would be the fun in that?” Caleb rolls his eyes. “So, the asshole with his arms all wrapped around your girl is her boyfriend, huh? Well, that’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming.”
“She’s not my girl,” I mumble, sipping my beer to help me swallow that painful truth.
“You mean she’s not your girlyet.” Caleb winks at me.
