Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(53)

Randall was imploding again. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was shy. Luckily, I had a cure for that. It was called a shot, and after two or three, a guy had no more edges. Or inhibitions. Neither did a girl. Tricky situation.

“Uh, guys, I am going to take Randall down and get us a drink. We missed the last call with the waitress.”

Ty shook his head and stood up. “Willie got you drinks. Willie! Hey WILLIE, you deaf f**k. WILLIAM!”

William turned away from some guy with a smile and noticed what Ty was after. He gave a nod and one finger.

“At least it is the pointer finger he’s giving you,” I pointed out.

“At the moment.” Candace laughed.

“All set,” Ty said, back to relaxing.

“You know, Ty.” I began, putting my empty bottle to the side. “It would’ve been a lot easier if you had just walked the three steps over to get the drinks yourself...”

William showed up behind Ty with two drinks and a grin, “This little fu—ah, sucker prides himself on being the laziest man alive.”

“Except in bed.” Ty’s eyes gleamed. Candace giggled.

I stood up to grab the drinks. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, do you kiss your mothers with that mouth?”

William looked bashful and Ty said, “Shut the f**k up you nosey bitch!”

William was holding a beer and some sort of champagne cocktail. I hesitated, my hands hovering close to his. My eyebrows raised in question.

“I heard somewhere that you loved champagne, and this place makes the best champagne cocktail around.” He winked, handed over the drinks, and wandered off.

I really tried to look away from that perfect ass of his.

“Right.” I sat down and handed over Randall’s beer, then had a taste of my drink. The champagne was quality and the flavor burst in my mouth.

“This is goooooood,” I said to Randall, offering him a taste.

He shook his head slightly and had another sip of his beer.

“Party pooper.” I bumped him with my shoulder. He lips curled, but he glanced at Ty and Candace, currently canoodling, to make sure he wasn’t noticed.

I got up and pulled Randall up with me. “C’mon. You’re coming with me.”

“Sex in bathrooms is strictly prohibited,” Ty called after us.

Randall doggedly followed me down the stairs, offering his arm. At the bar I yelled for two Lemon Drops, an easy shot with a slight energy kick because of all the sugary alcohol. I threw a twenty and stared at the ten and bills that I got back.

“I gave you a twenty,” I yelled as our shots arrived.

“Which is why I have you twelve bucks back…”

Not to look like the fool he thought I was, I leaned over to get the shots. That shut him up, proving he was dumber than me. At least I could still think when I saw pecks.

Although, I had yet to see William’s.

“Whoa—“ Randall took a shaking shot glass out of my hand.

I silently told the Cosmos to shut up.

“Drinks are cheap here!” I said as I licked sticky alcohol off my hand.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Lemon drop. They’re good. You’ll like it.”

“I don’t do shots.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t do shots,” he said again, louder.

“Well, tonight you are. You need to relax and have a little fun.”

He was mid-protest when I lifted his shot to his mouth, and mine to my mouth.

“No saying no to you.” A smile twisted his lips.

“One. Twoooooo....” I waited a second for him to gear up for it. “Three!”

Usually I wouldn’t count it out like a high school freshman, but clearly baby steps were needed.

He licked his lips, which had sugar on them, and smiled. “Not bad.”

“Ready?” I asked, about to step away.

“So...how come you are so familiar with Davies?”

Why wouldn’t he just let this go?

“He helped me out of a tight spot. That’s it, end of story. Nothing more to report. Back to you, Jim.”

“You seem pretty friendly with him.”

“I am friendly with them all. Why, what are you getting at?”

“N-nothing. It’s just crazy that you live in a mansion—”

“—pool house—”

“—with a really wealthy woman—”

“—which I rent from—”

“—and you are buddy-buddy with Willie Davies and his band of silver spoon boys.”

“Look, Randall, I’m not sure what you have against money. Personally, I like it. I wish I had some. But I was raised middle-class, and spent the last million years as a broke college student. I am not used to the privileged life, but will gladly hob knob with those that are if they are cool people, which they all have been. So get over your issues ‘cause they are not with me.”

My scowl could wilt flowers. And apparently men. His mouth was fused shut and his eyes were droopy. If he wasn’t being such a douche, I would feel bad.

I was about to apologize when he leaned in and smacked his lips against mine.

What was with this guy and kissing at random, nonromantic moments?

I pushed him back. “I’m going back. You coming?”