“Those fucksticks!” I hiss, slamming back the rest of my martini. “I’d flip this table if I wasn’t emotionally fragile and wearing four-inch heels.”
Jeremy claps once, delighted. “There she is. Rage lookssogood on you.”
“Agreed,” Maya says, already snatching three shots off a passing tray. She plants them in the center of the table then lifts hers high. “Let’s toast to Rageful Rorie.”
Jeremy and I grab the other two shots.
Maya says, “May their coffee always be lukewarm and their Wi-Fi unstable.”
We clink.
We drink.
Jeremy’s eyes glitter. “Okay. Cards on the table. What are you gonna do about it?”
I laugh once—low, bitter, honest. And then I fire back, “I don’t know—whatcanI do? Big Stream is the monster with the big swinging dick in this industry. We’re the ones getting railed from behind with no warm up, because that’s the cost of a seat at the damn table.”
“That mental image gave me whiplash and a semi.” Jeremy shifts in his seat. “Now I’m horny and probably going to hook up with either Groupon Guy or the bartender.”
Maya doesn’t miss a beat. “Go with the bartender. Groupon Guy called his podcast ‘redefining masculinity through kettlebells and crypto.’”
Jeremy makes a face. “Right. Bartender it is.” He wiggles a little. “Anyway. I have a surprise that might make you feel better.”
I arch a brow. “This better not involve tequila and hairnets again.”
“Oh, itabsolutelydoes.”
“No! Did we not learn our lesson after the churro stand incident?”
“Worth it. That launch event was epic. Plus, I got a Yelp shoutout.”
And because I can’t help myself—becausethis is Jeremy—I say:
“We got banned from the entire food truck district. Laurel is still holding a grudge about that one.”
“Well,technically, I wasn’t on the clock when I climbed onto the counter and tried to demonstrate the ‘sensual art’ of churro dough extrusion.”
Maya groans. “You yelled‘watch this, it’s going to change your life’and then dumped an entire vat of cinnamon sugar down your pants.”
“And yet,” Jeremy says proudly, “I still served fifty of their customers and got a five-star review for ‘passion and flair.’”
“From yourmom,” I mutter.
“She stands by it.”
Maya and I laugh because how can you not?
“Anyhoo.” Jeremy slides his phone across the table, the screen glowing with an invitation. I read it.
“Okay, maybe not the hairnets this time,” he adds,” but definitely the tequila.” His grin wide. Too wide. That’snevergood.
“TheAsher Cross?” Maya asks.
“And we’re VIP, baby,” Jeremy says, visually vibrating with glee.
“How?” I say, skeptical.Veryskeptical.
Jeremy straightens his posture. “I may have… loosely dated his second assistant’s ex-roommate’s cousin. Briefly. For like… three weeks. Maybe two.”
