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There were hugs and Sloane got a little gushy and teary-eyed. “I love you guys. Thank you for making my birthday special.”
Emily laughed. “Wow. You are drunk.”
“Nope. Not so. Not true. Hardly at all.” Okay, maybe a little, but the dancing and two glasses of water had definitely helped.
They waved and fought their way through the still packed dance floor. The charity event had clearly been a huge success. Sullivan and her dad were planning to donate all drink sales plus the cover tickets to breast cancer research. Kendra would have thought the whole night highly entertaining and that made Sloane happy.
The night was ending way better than it had started.
It could end even better if Rick would answer her text.
Pushing her hair back off her forehead she went over to the bar and asked Sullivan for a water. “Where’s Dad? I need a ride home.”
He eyed her. “You’ll have to wait until after we close up.”
“No problem, I can wait. I’m ready to close this place down.”
Sullivan managed to crack a smile. “Okay, then. I’m glad you’re having a good birthday, sis. But do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
He shook his head. “Don’t have sex with Rick. It’s not a good move for you.”
She was annoyed. Mostly because she really wanted to have sex with Rick and that her brother knew that fact was irritating. Also, because he thought he had the right to an opinion over her love life. “Who I have sex with is none of your business whatsoever.”
“It’s my business because I care about you, and Rick is one of my oldest friends. He’s been with a lot of women. And you just lost Tom.”
That made her snort. “I didn’t lose Tom. That makes it sound like I misplaced him at Walmart. We got divorced.”
“Which makes you not in a good head space right now.”
“My head is fine. The divorce was a good thing. Trust me.” Because Tom had cheated on her and they had both married for the wrong reasons.
“You shouldn’t be hooking up right now.”
“Oh, really? Because I hear you are hooking up left, right, and center.” Sloane was pissed. How dare he? Emily and Becca had given her the scoop. Sullivan’s way of grieving might be the most classically male way—by dipping his wick wherever, whenever in some messed up quest to forget his reality.
Sullivan threw down the rag he’s been holding. “That’s none of your business.”
Had h
e really just said that? Sloane felt like her head might explode. Siblings were so annoying. “Precisely! Have I said one freaking word to you about it? No. So stay out of my bed and I’ll stay out of yours.” She was annoyed that he couldn’t just be chill on her birthday. “And forget about me waiting for Dad. I’ll take a car service, Sullivan Double Standards O’Toole.”
“Sloane.”
With that she whirled around and found her face to face with Rick. “Did you want to share a ride?” he asked. He was back in his jumpsuit and it was fully zipped up now. He looked like he was ready to leave.
Her insides fluttered, just a little bit. Damn, he was sexy. Perfect plan. “Sure. Thanks, Rick. Are you leaving now?”
“Yep. Just need to close out my tab. Sullivan, what’s the damage?”
“It’s on the house,” Sullivan said. “For being willing to make such a giant ass out of yourself for Lilly’s crazy idea.”
“Thanks, bro. I actually had fun, not going to lie.” He gave Sloane a smile. “If it wasn’t for tonight I wouldn’t know my moves have moves.”
That made her laugh. “You are unbelievable. I’m going to grab my purse. I left it on the table.”
“Don’t touch my sister,” Sullivan told Rick, without even waiting for her to be out of earshot. “Seriously, dude. Don’t even think about it.”
