They don’t pressure him further, but it does have me curious. Alysa mentioned he loved college parties and was one hell of a shot when it came to beer pong, even when completely wasted.
He’s only twenty-seven, hardly old enough to swear off everything entirely, so I can’t help but wonder. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe he just doesn’t want to embarrass himself the first time out with me and my friends, trying to make a good impression. Not that he needs to.
Ayden is easy to love being around.
Fucking hell, the beers are getting to my head.
By the time the game pushes into the fourth quarter, I’ve got a solid buzz going. Maybe it was smart he didn’t drink—looks like I’m going to need him to drive us home. It’s possible that’s the reason he stuck to water all night. Always the smarter one between us.
I grin directly across the table at Brittany, who is slowly turning away from the TV.
“What was that about the Broncos,Britt?”
The score is thirteen to fifty-two with less than seven minutes left in the game. Cardinals winning.
“You biggity-bitch, don’t look at me like that.”
“Don’t make me report you for your language, missy.” I chuckle through my toothy grin.
“You cheated.”
That has me tossing my head back with my mirth.
The sudden shift of the table has me looking around to see Ayden getting up out of the booth.
“Where are you going?”
He wets his lips. “Bathroom.”
I press my hands to the table and stand, raising my hands up to stretch my back out.
“Oh. You don’t have to come with me.”
My brow pops. “I don’t need to go, but I’m going to close out the tab.”
“Oh, duh, right.” He clears his throat, and it’s now I look down at him fumbling around with his phone in hand.
“I’ll show you where it’s at, though. May as well.”
“Thanks…”
“No problem.”
After walking him to the bathroom—which, surprisingly, had no line despite the swarm of guys packed in here—I head back to the bar. I settle the tab and grab a water for the road. Not that Ayden really needs it, but I pick one up for him as well.
“You’re lucky,” Kali says through a hiccup. “You’ve got a DD. I’m gonna have to take an Uber.”
“I can drop you off,” Corey says as he slips from the booth. “I’m fine, and you’re along the way. I definitely didn’t have as much as you guys.”
“Zero tolerance!” Brittany shouts over the screaming patrons. “Take an Uber. Do the ride share, all of you.”
“Yes, mom. Who are you again?” The redhead gives her a catlike smirk.
“Don’t give me that, Taylor. I’ve held your hair over your head before you were legal to hold a bottle of liquor to your lips!”
A soft chuckle flows from my lips before I take a sip of my water.
I catch Ayden out of the corner of my eye as he makes his way back toward us. He looks drained, and concern punches through me before I can stop it. I close the gap in a few quick steps, not caring if anyone overhears.
