“She’s yours after ten-thirty,” Uncle Jay said before I could answer.“I have backup coming in to replace her.”
I made a “how rude” face at him, and he winked at me while mixing drinks.
“You have an appointment with me and another tower of shots at ten-thirty,” Miranda said.“Don’t stand me up.You won’t like the consequences.”
She left me alone as ten-thirty approached, but Uncle Jay didn’t.He poured me a tray of shots and told me to deliver it in person.
I sighed and left him behind the bar with some college guy I’d never met before but who was really good-looking.
“About time,” Miranda said when I approached.Then she shooed the two men sitting beside her away.“Sorry, guys.It’s girls-only time right now.”
One of them looked like he was going to try to sweet-talk her into paying him more attention than me.She froze him with a look and a low growl.He scampered away.
“I wish I could perfect that growl,” I said.“I wouldn’t need to be in a constant state of transition then.”
“Oh, my poor baby,” she crooned.She plucked a shot from the tray and handed it to me.“Drink this, and you’ll feel better.And don’t worry.I’ll growl for you tonight until you say stop.”
“Hmm.I like what you’re proposing.”The shot went down with a good deal of burn, and I wrinkled my nose.“He didn’t give us the good ones.”
“I think he gave you the ones he thought you needed.”She handed me a second shot.“Don’t stop until your face is numb.”
“Isn’t that the danger zone for humans?”
“I’ll hold your hand if you need your stomach pumped.”
“Friendship would be stopping me before it gets to that point.”
She waved away my concern, and I watched her gaze sweep through the crowd.
“If you’re looking for your next flirt, I vote for my replacement.He has a nice ass.”
Her gaze locked with mine, and she slowly smiled in a way that told me she was about to be up to no good.“Oh?Were you eyeing up the bartender?Are you feeling the itch for something a little more relaxing than a drink?”
I shrugged and picked the next shot for myself.“Maybe.”
“Excellent.”
We danced.We consumed shots.And slowly, all the weight life had been stacking on my shoulders melted away as my intoxication increased.
“Smile for me, Sophie,” Miranda said next to me.
I turned toward her and felt the room spin a little.She was holding up her phone, so I gave her my flirty half smile and struck a pose for a picture.
“Tell me again whose ass is nice,” she said.
“The bartender,” I said.“It’s bitable.”
“And what are you going to do after you bite his backside?”
“Hopefully, experience a private tour of Pound Town on his front side.”I laughed then immediately sobered.“I hope he’s packing.What if he’s small?Go check for me.”
“On it.”She lowered her phone and popped up from her seat like a good wingwoman.“Don’t move from this spot.”
“I won’t.”I was too relaxed to get up, but not so comfortable that I couldn’t reach for another shot.This one was fruity and tasted good.
My eyes might have slipped closed because I had to fight to open them again when someone put their arm around me.I blinked at the most beautiful face with the sparkliest golden eyes I’d ever seen.
“Konni,” I said with a smile.“I missed you.”
