Simon steps dramatically to the floor on the ground level, and this time, he sways hard.
Then hiccups.
Then giggles as he straightens both of us.
“Simon! Simon, wait,” Jake calls. “She’s playing you. Everyone thinks she’s this perfect, wonderful person, but they don’t know her like I do.”
Simon sighs deeply, lifting me with his inhale and somehow settling me even closer to his chest on his slow exhale.
And then he turns and looks up at Jake, who’s halfway down the steps.
People crowd around at the top of the stairwell.
All conversation has stopped in the two rooms on either side of us.
“When everyone else is always the problem, old boy, it’s time to look in a mirror. Lana sends her—hic!—regards. No, wait… That’s not what she said.” He squints at the ceiling as though he’s thinking. “Ah, yes. Lana sends wishes that you spend your every day with the same affliction that I would have if I were to have dined on any of your dishes this evening. And I daresay a number of your diners tonight wish the same. Good day, sir.”
I spot Quincy at the top of the stairs, his mouth spread in a wide-open smile.
Simon carries me around the hostess stand—without knocking me into a doorframe or the stand or swaying at all—and strides past the Camilles without another glance, and directly out the door.
“That was—” I start, but I cut myself off when I spot the firetruck rolling into the circle drive. “Oh, shit.”
Three firefighters leap out as Ryker races across the street from the miniature golf course.
My brothers love that place.
“All solved, gentlemen,” Simon announces to the firefighters. “I saved the lady from the restroom. Though I daresay you might wish to inspect the remainder of the loo doors for broken locks before you depart.”
He sets me on my feet, holding me steady while I wobble.
The firefighters continue into the restaurant, probably for confirmation that a random drunk guest isn’t making things up.
“There’s no fire,” I call to Ryker. “I got locked in a bathroom.”
He slows.
Hudson, who’s on his heels, slows too, but he also grins. “No shit?”
“It was an accident.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen, but I haven’t finished my date with your sister.” Simon takes the champagne bottle and lifts it for a long drink that has my eyes watering from watching him.
That’s a lot of bubbles down his throat at once.
“And you have to be drunk to finish the rest of this date with my sister?” Ryker says.
He’s still studying me head to toe.
Cracking his knuckles too.
“Absolutely,” Simon says. “Alcohol always makes tricksters more bearable.”
“Tricksters?” Ryker repeats.
“People who lie about their intentions.”
Hudson rolls his eyes. “Dude, I was there. You jumped to a conclusion about what Bea wanted and you just assumed you were right without asking her if it was possible that you and your ego got it wrong. Pop off. Bea, let’s go home.”
