“Yeah, Aileen, what’s the big deal?” Caroline said with a taunting leer.
“I don’t know. Bar top dancing. Karaoke. Any of this ringing a bell?”
“You’re just afraid you’ll forget yourself and slap Liam on the ass again in front of everyone.”
Jenna spit out the sip of water she’d just taken to send me an incredulous stare. “What was that?”
I shifted, uncomfortable.
“Is she talking about your boyfriend Liam?” Jenna asked with wide eyes.
I glared at my supposed best friend.
“That’s the one,” the heifer agreed with a nod. “He tried to carry her out of here on his shoulder when she wouldn’t stop dancing, so she slapped him right on the ass. It was loud.”
While I was plotting Caroline’s imminent demise, Connor stole his drink back.
“I’m impressed,” he drawled. “I didn’t think anyone was brave enough to do something like that to Liam.”
Natalia roared with laughter.
“You all suck,” I informed them.
Caroline made a pshaw sound as she propped her cheek on her hand. “You’re just grumpy.”
Connor took a slow sip of his drink before nodding. “Yes, sister dearest, I agree with the demon wolf. You’re a grumpy pants.”
“Grumpy pants, grumpy pants,” Jenna sang as she bounced gleefully in her seat.
I signaled the bartender as Caroline and Natalia joined in the sing-a-long.
Dahlia lifted her chin in acknowledgment as she got busy behind the bar.
Dahlia held a beauty that would have once inspired men—and women—to wage war in her honor. Refined and graceful, even when she was breaking up a bar fight, Dahlia held a nobility that made you want to lay the world at her feet.
Her features looked to be of middle eastern descent. Her eyes were a deep brown you could get lost in. Her hair was a straight sheet of black and her skin a dusky gold.
She prowled across the room, holding the drink she’d prepared for me in one hand and a shot glass in the other. Both of which she set on the table in front of me.
I nudged the shot glass. “What’s this?”
“You’re late. That requires a punishment.”
“Not you too.”
I eyed the shot glass with trepidation as I slumped in defeat. I’d had one too many encounters with Dahlia’s concoctions to ever take them lightly.
“Maybe next time you won’t forget.” Dahlia’s smile would have been sweet if it wasn’t so devious. “Now, drink.”
Jenna and Caroline pounded the table in tandem. “Drink! Drink! Drink!”
I gave them a disgusted look. “I forgot how awful you two are when you’re together.”
Caroline may have been my best friend, but her connection with Jenna was special. They had decided early on it was their mission to find new and intriguing ways to torture me.
“You know you love it,” Jenna purred.
I rolled my eyes. That was one way to put it.
