“Look at this sap over here, looking at the door for his girl.” Hunter jokes.
“I’m sorry but weren’t you just in his position?” Wyatt sips his beer, but stares at Hunter.
“Whatever, dipshit. Can we focus on the fact that Cooper is dating?”
“Please don’t,” I plead.
“Baby Cooper is ready to be a man. Do we need to have the birds and bees talk?” Wyatt asks.
“Seriously? I’ve been plenty successful in that department. I’m good. Just focus on your own.” I nod over to Tiff who’s been sitting at the bar staring over here for the last ten minutes.
“One fucking time. I fuck a local, one fucking time and it haunts me everyday.” Wyatt chugs his beer now.
Tiff tries to use us to make Wyatt jealous, but it doesn’t work, he’s appreciative that we take the attention from him. If only she’d realize that it will never happen again and move on.
“That’s all it takes man. One time.” Roman adds in, his surprise daughter, my niece, I’m sure is at the forefront of his mind.
When the door finally opens and I see all the girls walk in, my breath catches in my throat at the sight of just one.
Aubrey looks stunning in a pair of jeans and a basic tee that she somehow makes look luxurious. If I could will her to transport right to me, I would. Instead I settle for watching as she saunters up to the table we’re at. Her eyes dart around the room, like she’s looking for someone or something.
“Hey.” She smiles at me as she comes up to take the seat conveniently left empty next to me.
“Hey. You look stunning.”
“It’s just jeans and a tee.” Her cheeks redden with embarrassment at my compliment.
“I don’t care what it is. You’re stunning regardless.” I pull her to me, holding her close by her ass cheek with my arm around her.
“Everyone can see us,” she whispers.
“I’m sorry.” I pull back, knowing she’s uncomfortable with what I assume is all the attention on us.
Her eyes are still darting around, and she’s fidgeting with her clothes and hands.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. Sure. It’s all… fine.” She tugs at her top once again, but I continue to stare. I know she’s lying to me. “Oh fine, it’s the first time I’ve been out in a crowd since… since… we can talk about it later. It’s just the first time I’ve been in a crowded space since Jack.”
“Do you want to leave? We don’t have to be here.”
“No. I don’t want to let the fear take over. I just want to be happy.”
I eye her suspiciously, I wish I had any clue what she was talking about. But before I can ask her again, Evelyn drops a round of shots at the table.
“Drink up, bitches!” The girls all clink their shot glasses together, including Aubrey who has a smile plastered on her face now. I just can’t tell if it’s real or fake.
“Oh, my God! Cooper Keaton!” Tiff pushes Aubrey practically off her chair and flounces into my lap.
Her boobs push right up into my face as she situates herself on my lap and hugs me, somehow at the same time. My brain is frozen in shock at her boldness and touching me. Mom always taught me not to hit a woman, but that’s all that’s coming to mind. Over her shoulder I mouthhelp meto Aubrey, or anyone really.
Aubrey’s face is showing a range of emotions right now. It started with her wide eyes taking in the scene that quickly unfolded in front of her. Then I watched as the annoyance set in and she looked around to the other girls trying to figure out if I was two timing her. Then the anger. Her narrowed eyes, andballed fists came first. Then her hand on Tiff’s shoulder pulling her off me.
“Excuse you!” Tiff says, whipping her head around to Aubrey.
“No, I’m sorry, you’re confused here. Excuse the actual fuck out of you. Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Tiff looks her up and down. “Oh honey, I’m the regular around here. You’re the tourist-one-night-stand trying to get with any of these men, and honestly I can’t blame you, but it’s not going to happen.”
