“So slimy,” Lacey adds. “Did you ever ask about the rent special they offered the current tenants?”
“I did, and it was two and half times my current rent.” I pretend to gag. “So expensive. I need somewhere cheap.”
“What can I get you ladies?” the bartender asks, interrupting our conversation.
“Another gin and tonic, a French 75, a cosmo, and a martini,” Lacey shoots off.
“Extra dirty,” Gray yells as he walks away, and he throws a thumbs up into the air.
“Have you looked on Craigslist?” Gray asks.
“Craigslist? No. I don’t want to be murdered.” I laugh. “I just need to find a place that’s decent and allows me to keep saving my money.”
“I could talk to Jace about you living with us for a bit,” Lacey offers.
“I can’t do that. We’re moving y’all in tomorrow, and I would totally kill the vibe.”
“Then Tanner—” Poppy begins.
“Nope, we’re done. Next person to bring him up is going to have to take tequila shots,” I warn.
“Fine,” all three of my friends say at the same time.
The bartender returns with four drinks, and we make our way back to the guys.
“Anyone up for a friendly game of ping-pong?” Logan asks, gesturing toward the table in the corner. “What do you say, Chatterbox, you and me versus Wren and Tanner?”
“I’m in,” Poppy says. “Wren, want to play?”
“Oh, um, I think I’m going to sit this one out,” I say.
“Come on,” Poppy begs. “I’m not very good, but it’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, pretty please,” Tanner pleads.
“Gray, why don’t you play,” I suggest.
“No, I’m good,” she says, her mouth forming an evil grin. “You should play.”
“Fine,” I groan, downing the rest of my cosmo in one go.
“Hell yeah,” Tanner yells, putting his hand up for a high five, but when I try to meet his hand with mine, he moves it, and it just ends up being an awkward brush of our fingers. His cheeks heat, and he heads to the bar to collect the paddles without a word.
They seriously want me to live with him, yet we can’t even high five without being weird.
The rest of us head toward the ping-pong table, and I try to push my feelings aside.
“So, what are we playing for?” Tanner asks, handing each person a paddle.
“Losing team has to share a dance,” Poppy says. “And the winning team gets to pick the song.”
“That was the bet last time we played,” I say. “Remember the night Jacks and Lacey hooked up in the bathroom?”
“Scared you’re gonna lose?” Poppy teases.
“No, I was just thinking we could come up with a different bet.”
“I’m good with that being the bet,” Logan says, shrugging.
