Page 19

“Ya’ll should totally join us,” he says.

My jaw tightens, as does my grip on my drink.

Dare’s gaze catches mine and I see the corners of his lips perk up.

“I’d love to,” he says, that bratty undertone to his voice making my blood rush and my cock twitch.

Bad fucking idea.

I do my best to remain apathetic, or at the very least,appearapathetic.

It irritates me how just one fucking look from this kid can get my fucking panties in a twist.

Maybe Hailee is right.Maybe I need to get fucked, seriously.

I sip my whiskey drink, glancing away from the little brat.

Hans flags our waitress down as Celina and Hailee busy themselves with dragging extra chairs over, like Fuku is a damn McDonald’s and not a high-end restaurant.

Seriously, what is wrong with them?

Dare settles between Geo and I, his frame entering my space.

I know I should move over, but I don’t want to give this damn kid an inch.I know he’ll take a mile, and I’m not in a giving mood.The past twenty-four hours, it’s like I can’t get away from him.

“Whatcha drinking, old man?”Dare quips with a grin, nudging me with his elbow.

This close, I can smell the cologne rolling off of him.Some cheap, knock-off crap that probably came off the back of a truck somewhere.

He runs his free hand through his hair, which looks a little shinier than it did earlier, but equally still disheveled and unkempt.

My palm twitches as I watch his fingers slide through the silky locks.

I shouldn’t know what that feels like, but I do, and it’s all I can think about.

I grip my glass tightly.“Nikka,” I bite.

Dare raises an eyebrow.“La Femme Nikita?I didn’t know she made drinks.”

I roll my eyes, my tongue sharp as the bitterness of my whiskey.“It’s Japanese whiskey.”

Idiot.

Dare cocks his head to the side, twisting his lips.“Sounds stuffy.”

I pause as I bring the drink to my lips.“It’s sophisticated.”

I savor the taste of the cherry blossom liquor that only heightens the coffee flavoring.The bitterness on my tongue soothes my fractured nerves.

I refuse to move for Dare.

“You wouldn’t know anything about that though, would you?”I snark.

Hailee laughs loudly, and I glance across the table to see Richie telling some story that has her, Celina, and even Hans, captivated.Geo smiles at me as he raises his drink.

The waitress drops off a fresh round of drinks, setting a rather sweet looking concoction in front of Dare.

Complete with a toasted marshmallow on top.