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The heavy day is weighing me down, and the only thing making me happy right now is shots. “Another four, please,” I tell the barman.
“I know you said you had a bad day, Meli, but seriously, it’s only Thursday. Slow down.”
“It’s like they’ll never forgive me,” I continue my conversation like she didn’t just speak. “How long are they gonna punish me for?”
“Maybe they’re not punishing you,” Rosey replies, taking the shots and carrying them over to a nearby table. She looks around, and I know she’s hoping to see Arthur. “Maybe they’re just closer these days.”
“He told her about the baby,” I repeat.
“You already told me,” she says, rolling her eyes. “He can talk to who he wants. Besides, you got rid of a baby, so maybe he thinks it’ll upset you.”
“What, like I won’t be happy for my brother to have his first child? I was happy when Hadley had Oakley, and that was after the whole mess of Grim and me.”
“But you weren’t exactly happy when she announced it. Perhaps Mav doesn’t want you to ruin his announcement too.” She laughs, and I narrow my eyes. “Look, I honestly think this is in your head. You’re the only one punishing yourself by seeing things that aren’t there.”
“I need a man,” I announce, and she laughs at my dramatics. “If I show I’ve moved on, they’ll be normal around me.”
“There’s a couple of guys over there who keep looking over.”
I glance to my left and see the two guys she’s referring to. Both are nice-looking and well dressed. “Smile,” I tell her. “You look like you want to murder them.” She smiles awkwardly, and I kick her under the table. “Don’t fuck this up for me, Rosey. We’re not all blessed with a mafia god making moves on us.”
It doesn’t take long for the two men to come over and introduce themselves as Elijah and Henry. Both work in law and are enjoying a few drinks after work to unwind. I pick off Elijah, mainly because he’s giving me all the signals and I like his green eyes. Henry and Rosey head off to the bar, and I seize the moment. After all, that’s what I’m vowing to do, or I might be single forever. I grab him by the tie and tug him closer. “You’re definitely single?” I ask for the third time.
He grins, his lips only a breath from my own. “I promise.” I close the gap as my lips press against his.
ARTHUR
“I got a question,” says Tommy, leaning back in the booth and grinning like an idiot. “Fuck, marry, avoid? Rosey, Meli, and Jolene.”
Albert almost chokes laughing, spitting his drink down his chin. He wipes it, smirking at me glaring in his direction. “You told them?”
“We’re brothers—there are no secrets,” he replies, shrugging.
“Fuck Rosey, marry Meli, and avoid Jolene at all costs,” answers Charlie. Tommy nods in agreement.
“Why marry Meli? Rosey would be much more fun to tame,” Albert argues.
“Grow up,” I tell them, knocking back my glass of water. My head is still aching from last night’s session, and there’s no way I’m repeating that.
“Speak of the angel,” says Albert, nodding his head. I look in that direction. “Isn’t that her acting like a horny little devil?”
My smile fades at the sight of Meli practically mounting some guy while they eat each other’s face off. I stand abruptly, and my brothers fall silent, watching me warily for my next move. They’re so in tune with me, they can sense my anger, but as I make my way over, I’m intercepted by Rosey, who places her hands on my chest and smiles seductively. “You haven’t called.”
I glare at her in annoyance. “Are you responsible for Meli getting in a state?” I snap.
She looks back at her friend and grins. “She said she wanted to get wasted. What kind of friend would I be to stand in the way?”
“Who is he?”
She shrugs. “I have no idea, but he’s gorgeous, and I think his luck is in tonight.”
I take her by the shoulders and move her to one side, so she’s no longer in my way, and I continue towards Meli. I place my hands under her arms and lift her from the guy. She cries out in surprise, and when I place her on the floor, she glares at me angrily. “What the fuck?” she screams.
“Exactly what I was gonna say to you.”
“No,” she hisses, wagging her finger at me. “You’re not doing this to me tonight. Mav is easing up on me, and I am allowed to meet guys.”
“Not on my watch.” I grab her wrist, noting she’s still wearing the bandage on her hand. I begin to pull her away from the bewildered-looking man.
