“Full squad. They want to meet you properly.”
“They met me last time.”
“Last time they didn’t know I was sleeping with you.”
“And now they do?”
“Keely told everyone. I gave her permission. She was very thorough.” I lean on the bar. “Are you okay with that?”
Teague looks at me. Her expression is unreadable in the way it gets when she’s processing something that doesn’t fit into her usual categories. Then the corner of her mouth moves.
“What did you tell them?”
“Everything.”
“Define everything.”
“I told Keely you went down on me on your couch and I saw God and the next time I went to your apartment you let me touch you and you said my name when you came and I slept in your bed and you told me to stay.”
Teague’s hand, which was reaching for a bottle, stops midair.
“You told her all that.”
I purse my lips, suddenly questioning my choices which were so solid a moment ago. “She’s my best friend. Was I not supposed to?”
“No, you—” She picks up the bottle. Pours something. Sets it down. “You can tell her whatever you want. I just wasn’t expecting the full broadcast.”
“Broadcasting is my love language. Among other things...things you do very well. With your tongue. Let me know if I'm being too subtle.”
She almost smiles. Almost. I take the Moscow mule and the round of drinks she’s assembled, Aperol spritzes and vodka sodas, and carry them back to the table where four women are vibrating with anticipation.
“So?” Keely says immediately. “Is she coming over here?”
“She’s working.”
“She can work and talk.”
I laugh. “She doesn’t do small talk.”
“Who said anything about small talk?” Keely picks up her Aperol spritz. “I have questions. Specific questions. About technique.”
“Keely.”
“What? I’m doing research. For all of us. Mia’s boyfriend could learn things.”
Mia laughs, but we all know it's true. He's apparently terrible in bed.
“Please don’t tell Teague that.”
The night goes the way nights go at Anthem when my friends are here. Loud. Warm. The music plays and the drinks flow and Raquelle challenges Jordan to pool and loses spectacularly and Keely keeps glancing at the bar, building up courage.
At ten, Keely makes her move.
I watch from the table as she walks up to the bar with her empty glass and her biggest smile and says something I can’t hear. Teague responds. Keely laughs. Then Keely leans forward and says something else and Teague goes completely still behind the bar.
Keely comes back to the table looking triumphant.
“What did you say to her?”
