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“No.” He jerked at the knot. “I know how to tie a damn tie.”
I pressed my lips together against a laugh.
“I’ll see you at The Haunt?”
I nodded. “Sure. Of course. I’ll be there with the girls.” I looked over my shoulder and spotted Rylee and Ivy with their heads together. “I should go over there with them anyway. See if I can help too.”
“Beck!” Sheriff Brooks called. “Before I freeze my goddamn nuts off.”
August walked backward. “See ya.”
I waved.
Jeez. What the heck was all that about?
I picked my way through the carnage of footprints packing last week’s snow down to ice. Rylee was hopping up and down in front of a cooler.
“To starting the night right. I have a babysitter and plan on seducing my husband, thanks to Jose and Cabo Wabo. What’s your poison?”
“Two different tequilas?”
“Margies in this one.” She flipped her dark braid over her shoulder and did her best Vanna White impression, indicating the red and white Coleman thermos we generally used for lemonade. “And this one…” She stepped aside to show a matching blue one. “Tequila Sunrises.”
“Oh, hello.”
Rylee tossed me my cup. “Have at it.”
I looked over my shoulder at Sheriff Brooks. He wasn’t paying attention—yet.
“Closed container, who’s gonna know?”
“Ever the troublemaker, that’s my sister.” Kelsey tucked a wildly fluttering lock of strawberry hair behind her ear. “However, I recommend the Sunrise.” She licked her lips. “Yummy.”
“You too?” But I went right to the blue thermos and opened the spigot. I definitely needed a little bit of liquid courage to get through this night.
We sipped from our covered tumblers as we gathered the small amount of trash that had been left behind. As cups and wrappers were dumped into bags, we laughed and cupped our hands over our mouths to keep in the warmth.
While we cleaned up, I finished off two rounds of Rylee’s dangerous Tequila Sunrise concoction that I had a feeling was heavy on the Cabo. Whoa.
The guys finished taking down the arbor and packing it away in August’s truck. He came back and took the two big bags of garbage from us and ushered us out of the park.
“Get inside, ladies. It’s fu—freaking freezing.”
Ivy patted his cheek. “Such a good guy.” She giggled and bumped his hip.
“Just what have you guys been drinking?”
I swung the blue Coleman, my new best friend, and patted his chest. “Don’t you worry about it. Just our go-juice for the evening.”
Ivy, Rylee, Kelsey, and I danced our way around him and over to Jared before Rylee stole his hat.
“Mrs. Kramer,” he warned.
Rylee tossed it to Kelsey, who fumbled it and picked it up off the snow with a laugh. “Whoops.”
The sheriff shook his head. “Don’t make me arrest you today.”
“Aww, come on. Have a little fun, Jared.” Rylee saved his hat from her sister and jumped up to plunk it on his head. “We’re gonna go right across the street to The Haunt and be good little girls.” She tapped her chin. “Ish. But no one will be driving, so don’t you worry.” Rylee shook her booty and headed for the sidewalk.
