“Oh, that’s some good shit, too,” Taylor said.
“Of course it is. I love my wife, she’s amazing.”
“Here,” someone said behind me, a shot glass held out to my left. I turned to see Carter holding out the drink. “A little liquid courage for whatever shenanigans the boys have dragged you into. Don’t know what it is, don’t wanna know, but I figure it’s important ifyou’redoing it.”
I gave him a tight nod and took the shot, downing it. The burn of the alcohol was short-lived and did nothing to dim the nerves ringing in my ears.
“Maybe one more,” I mumbled, turning back to the bar.
“Wait, man, you better not be getting cold feet. I’d never hear the end of it,” Jimenez said as he followed after.
“Not cold feet. I just need —”
“A little liquid courage?” Brooker filled in, crashing into the conversation as he hopped off the stage. “I saw your little chitchat. Congrats, man.” He clapped me on the back. “Taylor, get him another couple shots on my tab.I’vegot a date with someone who just bid 9k to be with me.”
“Holy fuck,” Carter whispered in horror. “Is that normal at these events? I thought it was insane Kean got as much as he did.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve broken 20k before,” Brooker said with a cheeky smile. “I blame my all-time low on Kean distracting everybody.”
“Uh-huh, sure, that’s what happened,” Taylor said with a scoff, knocking his fist on Brooker’s arm. The other man rolled his eyes before waving him and the rest of us off and joining whoever his lucky lady was.
“All right.” Jimenez patted my shoulder then turned me to the bar. “Let’s steel your nerves, so you can get back to your girl.”
“She’s not …” I started to argue but stopped when the warmth of those words hit me. I liked the way that sounded far too much to argue and that was all the more reason I needed to get my shit together so I could actually make hermy girl. “Yeah, let’s go.”
“That’s our guy!” Taylor cheered as we all headed to the bar. Carter spoke to the bartender, ordering us all a round of shots.
“Jimenez,” I said while we waited for the drinks. “What do you normally get Rosa to drink?”
“At a place like this?” He leaned his back against the bar, head tilted up as he thought. “I guess whatever red wine the bartender recommends. We don’t usually do these kind of events, but I know she’d wanna drink something fancy to match the atmosphere.”
“Match the atmosphere,” I repeated, brow furrowing as I tried to think of a drink that matched Kodiandthe gala. The bartender set our shots down in front of us and I quickly downed it and motioned for another.
“You don’t have to overthink it, man,” Taylor said, grabbing one of the drink menus and setting it in front of me. “She’ll appreciate the thought either way.”
I looked down at the menu, debating the choices like I debated what team to sign with my first year. It feltthatimportant.
“I’ll get a glass of the Kir Royale,” I told the bartender, remembering Kodi ordering something equally fruity at the club in Nashville. And then, once the drink was set in front of me, nerves twisted my stomach. “And another shot, please.”
“You got this, man,” Taylor said.
“Yeah and if there’re any lulls in the conversation, ask her about herself, stuff she likes, shit like that. Andrememberwhat she says. Or at least put it down in your notes app, that’s what I do.”
“Huh, that might be the smartest thing you’ve ever said,” Carter told Jimenez. “Shame you don’t do the thing same with our plays.”
“Oh, shut up.”
I took my third shot while the others alternated between bickering and giving me unsolicited advice. Setting the glass down, I murmured thanks to the guys and went back to Kodi, holding her drink tightly, like it was a raft in a storm.
Kodi had returned to her table, whispering something to Rosa, who had the biggest grin on her face. She said something to Kodi and her eyes went wide, face reddening. Kodi opened her mouth, but shut it when I reached the table.
“For you,” I said, holding out the drink. Her eyes widened again, but this time with a shine of excitement.
“Oh, that lookssogood.” She immediately grabbed the drink and took a small sip, humming.
“Good choice, Kean,” Rosa whispered, patting my arm. “I’m gonna go see what my husband got for me.”
“Rosa,” Kodi hissed when the other woman walked away, but Rosa only gave her a wink and kept going. Kodi whispered under her breath, “Traitor.”
