"Back for more already? What did you think of those shots?"
Fuck, she has beautiful eyes. They’re grey-blue with a dark ring around them. They’re mesmerizing.
"Honestly, they were insanely sweet. I can already feel the gut rot. We'll take three tequila shots."
"Oh god yeah, those things are awful. I was shocked when he ordered them for himself and his guy friends. But hey, I don't judge." She puts both hands up, shaking her head. "Actually, that's a lie. I totally judge."
I slap my hand on the smooth wooden surface of the bar. "Wait. He bought them for himself and his friends? Why did you give them to me?"
"He ordered them, and when I went to run his card, it declined. Then he only had enough cash to pay for one, and since I already poured them, I didn't want them to go to waste. Better they go to you than to the idiot who didn't have enough left over to tip me after I just made him shots that requiresixdifferent ingredients."
"Smart woman." I wink at her, and I swear she gives me a flirty smile back. I'm usually pretty good at spotting when someone is hitting on me, but with bartenders, you can never be sure. They make a living by making people feel special. Hard to trust people like that. "I totally thought he bought those for us. Good thing I didn't let his broke ass in my pants for nothing."
She bats her eyelashes at me and slides our shots across the bar to us. Fia hands her a card, and we take our shots. I suck on a lime wedge to ease the burn of the liquor running down my throat. "Alright bitches. Let's go fuck shit up out there."
"Yay!" Iris is halfway there by the time I even take one step.
"I love you guys."Iris hangs one arm over each of our shoulders as we ascend the final flight of stairs to her apartment.
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too, you big goober." I jab my knuckle into her side, and she bursts into a fit of laughter.
"Whoa there!" Fia repositions Iris, who slipped off her shoulder and almost fell down the stairs.
Iris didn't even notice she almost fell to her death down the creaky, wooden steps of this old building. Instead, she perks up when she sees the door to her apartment. "This is me!"
I can't help but giggle at how adorable she is. "I know, honey. Remember, I live here too."
"You do?" Her eyes are as big as saucers. "Inmyapartment? With Bear and me?"
"No, silly, remember Fia and I live right below you. One floor down."
"That's right! I used to live there."
"You sure did."
"But now I live here. With Bear. He smells nice."
"That's great. Now, where are your keys?"
"Bear has them."
Fia looks at me across Iris's half-limp body. "She can't remember that you live in the same building as her, but she can remember that?"
I shrug with the one shoulder that doesn't have Iris weighing it down. "I'll call him." I yank my phone out of my pocket and call Bear.
"Hello?" His voice is groggy and confused.
"Hey, we're outside the door with Iris. Can you let us in?"
"Sure. She has a key, you know..."
"She said?—"
"It's fine. I'll be right there."
It takes him a minute before he's unlatching the door and taking in the sight of his heavily intoxicated girlfriend. He looks between Fia and me, who aren't nearly on her level.
Iris lifts her head, which was previously dangling, when she hears the door open. "Bear!" Her grin is so big it almost looks painful.
