“Oh, shit!” Garrett said. “I think a virus has swept through this club, and it’s called the love bug! Haha!”
“You invited him back?” I said to Mason.
“I did,” Zack said with a knowing sigh. “Brock and Steele were off with their girls, but I thought we could use a little house reunion. Steele’s the only one missing, anyway. Not like Brock has lived here in a while.”
“It’s one of the smartest decisions you’ve made in a while, Professor Smartass,” Garrett said, slapping his back. “I love my little boy, and I love my beautiful lady, but I also love taking shots with my guys and relaxing from time to time. Especially when they have news of love!”
I groaned and took my shot ahead of the other guys, the better to get the idea across.
“Good luck getting him to talk,” Mason scoffed.
“Nonsense, I can get mannequins and mimes to talk,” Garrett said with a chuckle. “Connor! Tell me about your romance.”
“There’s no romance to speak of,’ I said. “I had a bitch over here earlier today, and that was that.”
Says something that I feel weird calling her that.
“That’s not what Mason says,” Garrett said. “Also, since you downed your shot without doing it with the group, you have to do another one.”
“Fine by me,” I said. “If your plan is to get me drunk so that I confess, though, that’s not going to happen.”
“Confess, eh?” Garrett said as he filled my shot glass. “So there is more to the story than just her being a bitch.”
Shit.I gave away nothing with my face, but Garrett was right. He could get the mute to talk pretty well.
“Anyway, we’ll give you a chance to think about it,” Garrett said, “but for now, gentlemen. Cheers to us being back together in this house for at least one evening.”
“Cheers,” the other two said.
“Cheers,” I added right after.
We all downed our shots with ease. When you lived with Garrett, it was virtually impossible not to have plenty of experience downing shots. It was about as common as cracking open a beer.
“OK, you’ve had time to think about it,” Garrett said. “So who’s the girl?”
“Goddamnit, Connor, it was just a girl I hooked up with, it wasn’t like I took her to Vegas and got married.”
“Yeah, but like I said, there’s a love bug going around, and you just caught it!”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s really not so bad, you know,” he continued. “In fact, I’d damn well say it’s one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. Of course I miss one-night pussy and all the partying. But that woman? Man…Mason, put your hands over your ears if this bothers you. But I love that girl.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?” Mason said. “I’d rather her wind up with someone I know will treat her right than some Bandit. Like, you know, you fucking lied to me about for months.”
Though the statement seemed tense, both Garrett and Mason shared a laugh over it, suggesting whatever bad blood may have remained was all but gone.
“Exactly! And if Mason can see that for me, then he can see that for you, Connor.”
“So, what, Mason also has a sister I can go for?”
“Christ, no,” Garrett said, groaning for effect. “We want to know who the woman was that you fucked today! I’m sorry, ‘made love to.’”
God, Garrett could grind on my nerves so hard. Most especially because what he said had an element of truth to it.
“It’s Katie.”
“Oh, shit, the Rogers’ friend?” Connor said. “The hot fucking blonde who has more sass than me?”
