AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You aresorunning to him. And no judgments over here, babe. Maliki is hot and will have no problem fucking every thought of Devin the Douche Bag out of you.”
I gulp down the rest of my margarita. “There will be no sex with him. We’re friends. I’m comfortable talking to him.”
“Gee, thanks,best friend.I’m all for you running to him for sex,butI’m the one you’re supposed to feel the most comfortable talking to.”
“Trust me, you know way more about me than he does. It’s just …” I pause, struggling to define my relationship with Maliki. “We have this weird friendship.”
“Turn it into a fuckship, and I won’t be offended by you going to him and not me.”
“God, I love yet also hate you.”
She pushes her shoulders up and smirks. “You love me.” She motions for our waiter. “Now, let’s get you good and drunk before you go to your future fuck buddy.”
I lower my voice. “I’m not even divorced yet!”
She shakes her head. “Devin set the marriage bar when he stuck his pencil dick into a sorority tramp.”
The waiter comes, and she orders us another round of margaritas.
Andtwo shots of tequila.
* * *
“Your closing partner has arrived,”Ellie announces while helping me walk—no,stumbleinto Down Home.
I had four margaritas and lost count of how many shots I downed during dinner. My purse swings from my shoulder while I dangle off Ellie’s. I can walk. It’s just easier to do it with help.
What a way to celebrate your husband cheating.
A few loners are settled around the bar, vacant stools between them, and my vision is too fuzzy to make out who they are. Chances are they know me though.
Everyoneknows me in this godforsaken town.
They’ll hear about Devin’s restroom scandal. It’ll become the scandal of the year—right behind my father’s.
Keepin’ it classy in the Lane family.
“And she’s wasted,” Maliki says, rounding the bar to meet us.
“Wasted and asking for you,” Ellie clarifies. “I trust you’ll take care of her?”
“Always.” Maliki wraps his arms around my shoulders, relieving Ellie of my weight, and pulls me into him.
“Perfect!” Ellie kisses my cheek. “You two kids have fun.”
She leaves and heads to the parking lot where Corbin is waiting. I’d reluctantly let him pick us up from the restaurant. At first, I was afraid he’d tell Devin my business, but Ellie swore on her firstborn—my future godchild—that he wouldn’t.
Maliki guides me to the corner of the bar and assists me onto a stool. “I’m insulted you drank somewhere else. What’s wrong with my liquor?”
“I needed to get away from Blue Beech,” I answer.
“I get that.”
“And I’m not drunk. I’m tipsy. I can say my ABCs and recite every word of ‘Toxic.’” My words are slurred, but I trust Maliki can understand me. He’s regularly around wasted people. Drunken gibberish is his second language.
He chuckles. “I’m happy tipsy you remembers her Britney Spears songs.”
“Damn straight. And I’m impressed, Bridges. Im-freaking-pressed.”
