When I shake my head and try to focus on the woman standing in front of me, I realize it’s not that easy. The tequila hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. Suddenly, my head feels a little…foggy.
Lizzie leans in closer and keeps her voice down. “Tell me you ate dinner before you came.”
“Of course I did,” I mutter, vision a little slow.
“She didn’t,” Oaklee says, taking a sip of her margarita. “Oh! This is delicious.”
“Isn’t it?” I ask, all bubbly and shit as the buzz starts to warm my veins. “I’ll have another.”
“Fine, but drink more of that water while I make it,” Lizzie says, walking away.
I can’t help but notice she goes straight to Collin, who leans down and listens to whatever she says. My suspicions are confirmed when he glances over his shoulder and makes eye contact with me.
“I think she tattled on you,” Oaklee murmurs.
I lift my hand and give my oldest brother a middle finger.
His eyes narrow as he leans toward his girlfriend once more and says something only she can hear. Then, he presses his lips to her forehead and gets back to filling drink orders on the opposite side of the bar, fortunately. I love my brother—all of them—but the last thing I need is another dad right now. I had a shit week. I’m about to turn thirty, which means I’m more than capable of having a few drinks at my favorite watering hole without being babysat by my siblings.
But I’m also not going to look a gift horse in the mouth either.
I’m incredibly grateful Cade is here and willing to give me a ride home at the end of the evening. It’s not like we have taxis or rideshare services in Cooper Town. What we do have is a phone tree with friends on call, and I know I could find someone available to pick me up and drive me home if needed.
And if all else failed, I could go upstairs and crash in Lizzie’s guest room. I’ve done it before, though I try to use that as a last resort. Her walls are thin, and wherever she is, my brother is there too. The last thing I want is to hear…things.
A shiver of disgust sweeps through me.
“You good?” Oaklee asks, taking another sip.
“Yep,” I reply, popping my P. “Come on, Oaklee. Let’s go shoot pool.” I practically jump off my stool and head for the pool table. I ignore how foggy my brain feels and do my best to walk straight. I can’t believe I’m already buzzed after only one drink, but I did ask her to add an extra shot of tequila. Not to mention that liquor-soaked fruit slice, which probably didn’t help.
I put two quarters into the slots of the table and release the pool balls.
“I’ll rack them,” Oaklee states, grabbing the triangle out of the slot on the table and starting to arrange the balls.
Collin appears, holding a glass. “Thank you, kind sir.”
“Now I’m a kind sir, because I delivered your alcohol. Earlier, I was ugly.”
I shrug and take a sip of the strong frozen liquid. “I call it like I see it,” I insist with a cheesy smile.
Collin shakes his head and turns to our other brothers as they approach. “She’s gonna need to be carried into her house.”
“I’m just fine!” I swear.
“Okay,” he mutters, leaving me in peace with my margarita.
I take another healthy drink before setting my drink down on the nearest pub table and going to retrieve my cue stick. Quinn is there, looking them over closely. He pulls one off the wall and walks to the table. I watch as he rolls it across the felt. I’ve done this a thousand times myself, but for some reason, watching him try to find a good stick is almost hypnotic.
That’s the tequila talking…
“Here. This one’s pretty straight,” he states, holding the stick out for me.
I stare at him, watching him move from side to side. Except, when I close one eye, he’s not moving anymore. “I think I’ll use the pretty one tonight,” I tell him, moving past him and retrieving a stick with turquoise designs.
He sighs. “You know that one’s more crooked than a politician on election day.”
“Yeah, but it’s pretty,” I insist, grabbing the stick from the holder and smiling.
