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“I’m sorry to have to leave you, but I got some shit to take care of. You ladies have a good night, and if you need me for anything—” Nik motioned to the tall, blonde bartender. “—tell Sheriff, and he’ll let me know. Okay?”
Nik and Max said their goodbyes, and the friendly waitress asked, “What can I get you to drink?”
We prattled off our order, and when the woman returned with our glass slipper shots, I took out my wallet. Placing a silken, gloved hand over mine, Carrie smiled with meaning. “Family doesn’t pay, ma’am.”
We don’t?
The girls stilled, and then Cora probed, “They don’t?”
“No.” The cute waitress held back a laugh.
Immediately, Cora leaned forward and stated, “Then I’m gonna need another two rounds of these things.”
I slapped her arm. “No, you don’t.” I turned to Carrie. “No, she doesn’t.”
But the waitress just winked at me, then replied to Cora, “Coming right up.”
We watched her walk away, and I spun to glare at Cora. Knowing she was being a shit, she turned out her hands, the very picture of innocence, and chuckled. “What?”
“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, and she picked up a glass, shooting it down with a grin and wince. She was lucky I loved her. Taking a quick pic of her, I sent it to a man who didn’t deserve her, then placed a glass in front of Mina, then Anika. “Drink up, ladies, and don’t worry about a damn thing. I’m on duty tonight, and I promise to hold your hair out of your faces while you barf.”
Cora put a hand to her heart and tutted. “And they say chivalry is dead.”
Anika didn’t need further encouragement. With an eager smile, she downed the shot in one gulp, then made a face. “I feel better already.”
Not wanting to be left behind, Mina threw the glass back, winced, then coughed out, “Me too.”
My phone vibrated in my hand.
Alessio: Would you fucking stop already?
I sniggered to myself.
Me: No <3
Another round of shots was thrown back, and for once, I was quite happy to sit back and watch my girls have a great time. I wished we lived in a world where four women dressed the way we were, drinking, and having a good time could be guaranteed their safety, but too many times had women been blamed for things that happened to them while under the influence, using what they were wearing as an excuse.
Tonight, I would be their sentry.
“So, Anika,” Cora got right into it, peering across the booth with mischievous eyes. “You got your eye on anyone at the moment?”
The apples of her cheeks blushed prettily, and when she picked up another shot, I figured she wasn’t going to answer that question. But she took the shot like a boss, then slammed the glass down onto the table, and wheezed out, “There is one guy. Was one guy.”
My ears perked. That got my attention real quick.
“Who?” came out of my mouth immediately, and it came out loud.
Anika rolled her shoulder, seeming to regret her admission. “It’s not important.” She let out a light laugh, but there was no humor in it. “It doesn’t matter. I messed up there. Waited too long. He doesn’t want me anymore.”
Huh?
That was not plausible.
Anika was basically the ideal woman. She was loving and gentle. I’d literally seen men fall over themselves just to be awarded a second of her attention. But, of course, she remained modest. It was frustrating as shit that she had no idea of her appeal.
She was so oblivious at times it hurt.
Mina frowned in confusion. “You’re smart and pretty and loyal. How could he not want you?”
The moment Anika responded bitterly with “Lev didn’t want me,” a look of stunned surprise left her, and her mouth gaped. “Mina, I—”
My brain slapped a hand to its mouth to muffle the howling scream that came out.
Oh nooo.
She did not just say that.
But Mina, the saint, just waved her off. “We’re not talking about Lev. We’re talking about your elusive beau. You said he doesn’t want you anymore. That means he did at one point.” She prodded gently, “What changed?”
“Yeah.” Curiosity had always been my downfall. I turned my entire body to face Anika. “What changed?”
The alcohol had loosened her lips. Her brows bunched, and her lips pulled down, her expression full of regret. “I said some things to him. Things I thought I meant at the time, but I didn’t. I guess I said what I said because I was scared of his intensity, and now, there is no second chance.” She shrugged, and a watery smile wobbled at her lips. “We can’t go back.”
No. It couldn’t be over before it began. Anika was sunshine and joy, and she deserved happiness.
“I refuse to believe there’s nothing you can do,” I stated, leaning in.
Another shot gone and Anika licked her lips, blinking slowly as the liquor did its thing. “Trust me. It’s finished. He tried, he fought, and all I did was reject him over and over. And this guy”—she looked at each of us—“he isn’t the type to forgive and forget.”
