“Thanks for dinner,” Heath says. “You wanna meet some of the guys?”
Do I? A glance around the busy bar. Since we sat down, the college hangout has gone from a handful of empty tables to standing room only. Classes start back tomorrow, and everyone is ready to see their friends and party, totally undeterred by the chaos. I’m sure I was the same way, but that feels like a million years ago.
I suppress a groan. No, I definitely don’t want to mingle in this crowd. Thirty isn’t exactly old, but the years that separate me from these kids are dog years. However, if I’m looking out for him like a big brother would that probably includes hiking up my old man balls and tucking them into my waistband so I can meet the people he’s spending time with.
3
Keira
Abby and I meet some of the team at our favorite local restaurant and bar. It’s crowded, which isn’t all that surprising. A new semester starts tomorrow and the best thing about going on break is coming back and catching up with friends.
And this is the perfect place to do that while also bumping into lots of other people. Frat guys, sorority girls, jocks, nerds . . . The Hideout is beloved by just about everyone. Greasy food and cheap drinks, you really can’t go wrong.
We give up on finding a table, grab drinks from the bar, and then make our way over to Erica and Cassidy. The four of us stand in a tiny circle, basically shoulder to shoulder.
“It’s so packed,” Erica says as someone bumps into her from behind and sends her stumbling forward, her vodka and cranberry spilling over the side of the glass.
Abby grabs her elbow and steadies her. “You okay?”
She nods but still shoots a dirty look to the guy behind her.
“Be right back,” Cassidy says. “I’m gonna do a lap and see if I know anyone sitting at a table. Maybe we can squeeze in.”
After she disappears, Abby looks to Erica. “How was break?”
“It was good. I went to North Carolina with Cassidy. You guys should see her dad. Holy silver fox. I mean, I’d seen him a few times before at tournaments, but when he’s at home in old concert T-shirts and sweatpants . . .” She tilts her chin toward the ceiling and sighs.
“You’re ridiculous,” Abby says. “And if Cass hears you, she’s never going to invite you back home with her.”
Erica just shrugs. “What about you guys?” She looks between Abby and me.
“Smith and I split the time between our families. He came to Texas for Christmas, and I went to Alabama for New Year’s Eve.”
Both girls glance to me expectantly.
“It was nice.”
Erica snorts. “That’s code for boring as hell because you spent the entire time playing golf instead of enjoying break.”
She isn’t wrong, but golf is what keeps me sane. Well, golf and nights out with my girls. But in their absence, I might have spent more time than usual with a club in my hand.
Before I can defend myself, Cassidy returns with four shots, and is grinning as she holds them out to us. “I didn’t find a table, but if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
Erica grabs one excitedly and Abby laughs as she takes one, eyes the lime wedge, and then sniffs the alcohol. “Tequila? This early?”
“I told the bartender to surprise me.”
Cassidy dangles the last shot glass in front of my face. “Ready to get drunk enough we can’t feel how much our feet hurt from standing in these heels?”
“Some of us were sensible enough not to wear five-inch heels to the bar.” I lift a foot, showing off my chunky heel boots.
“Cute,” she says, eyeing them with appreciation before holding up her shot glass. The rest of us join in, raising our glasses to the center and clinking them together before throwing back the strong liquor.
We all grimace, and Erica gags a little as she sucks on the lime.
“No more shots,” Abby says, and we all agree.
Ah, the best laid plans.
One hour and two shots later, my face is flushed pink and I can’t stop smiling. I’m holding on to Cassidy as we make our way back from the restroom. The place has only gotten busier, but the alcohol is doing its magic, and I’m less annoyed when people bump us from both sides like we’re inside a human pinball machine.
Cass leads the way, a step ahead of me, her blonde hair swaying side to side with each short, bouncy step she takes. Every two seconds, she stops to say hello to someone. She’s definitely the most social and outgoing of my teammates.
As the top-rated girl on our team, it should be easy for me to think of her as competition, but she’s just too dang nice to dislike.
Tonight is exactly what I needed. A carefree evening with my girls. I’ve no sooner thought about how much fun I’m having when I spot Abby with Smith at the bar. I stop, and Cass looks back as our hands start to separate. She follows my line of vision.
“Awww, they’re so cute.” When I don’t comment, she adds, “You don’t think so?”
“No, they’re perfect together. I was just having a good time spending the night with just us girls. Since they started dating, I barely see her outside of practice.”
She gives me a reassuring smile. “Come on. Let’s find Erica.”
When we eventually find the missing member of our party, she’s sitting at the end of a table with three of the golf guys.
“Hey,” Erica says, “look who I found.”
“What’s up, Keira? Hey, Cass.” Keith stands and offers me his seat. He smacks Griff on the shoulder as he’s mid drink. “Get up, man.”
Cassidy and I take their seats across from Erica and Chapman.
The guys somehow manage to find two free chairs and drag them up to the ends. Keith gets another pitcher of beer and more shots magically appear.
I can’t have another drink. I’m already riding the line between puking in a public restroom toilet and passing out peacefully as soon as my head hits the pillow. The latter is my preference, obviously. But I know myself and one more shot and I’ll think I’m invincible to the effects of alcohol.
“No,” I say when all eyes fall to me and the last shot glass on the table. “I can’t.”
“Come on, one more shot and then we’ll go dance,” Cass pleads.
“Dance?” I ask and look around. “Where?”
“Anywhere and everywhere,” she singsongs with a laugh.
I glance to Erica for backup, but she looks just as excited as Cassidy. I have no idea where these two are storing their liquor, but they don’t seem nearly as drunk as I am. They’re only slightly taller than me, and we have similar builds. I could toss either one of them over my shoulder like a rag doll.
Okay, actually that’s a lie, I’m too scrawny to toss anyone like that except maybe an actual rag doll, but I’m definitely stronger than them so why am I the only one feeling it so hard right now?
Someone slides the shot glass from the center of the table to just in front of me. I open my mouth to protest again, but Cassidy looks at me with those big, brown eyes. The girl is some sort of sweet ninja with her ability to make me want to do things.
I don’t usually care about going along with people just because I can stand on my own—maybe too much sometimes. But if Cassidy were holding a torch gun in one hand and a bottle of moonshine in the other, I’d probably want to tag right along to see what she was going to get into.