But there’s one day a year when I don’t. I let the cork fly and unleash it all. It’s my cheat day. I behave for three hundred and sixty-four days, then go wild on my birthday.
I drink until my stomach flips inside out. I puke, then drink more. I fuck anyone willing and start fights with anyone breathing. I’ve woken up with bruised ribs, busted lips, scratches on my back, and lipstick on my shirt more times than I can count.
The first time Carter and Broadway saw me let loose, three men lost their teeth, five women lost their minds, and I lost the contents of my stomach all over the booth atDelta, narrowly missing Dante Carrow.
Lucky for me, Dante saw the funny side.
Since then, Carter’s hosted my birthdays in a more controlled environment. Security, alcohol, women, and a few soldiers willing to throw fists with me. Sometimes he’ll add someone already on our shit list, and I’ll cut fingers between rounds of whiskey and pussy. Or during. It’s been my birthday pattern for years.
Drink.
Fight.
Fuck.
Rinse.
Repeat.
A similar setup was ready this year, but I canceled the extravagant celebrations because all other women have lost their appeal since I saw Leilani. I couldn’t stomach the thought of wasting a single hour blacked out or buried in any pussy when I could be sober and sharp for her.
Ryder and Broadway are already in our section of the VIP area with their girls when I arrive. The customaryhappy birthdays, shoulder pats from the guys, and cheek pecks from the girls ends with Bianca.
“Hello, birthday boy,” she sing-songs, rising on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
Ryder’s watching, as always, but for the first time, there’s no hostility in his dark eyes. He just smirks.
I guess my theory was correct. He was on edge whenever Bianca came anywhere near me because I stupidly flirted with her when she first arrived. Thoughflirtedmight be an overstatement. I was merely teasing.
Still, I made a few comments I shouldn’t have, called her hot, and that made Ryder’s jealousy spike whenever Bianca got too close to me.
Judging by tonight’s attitude, he’s over it.
Convenient timing... Leilani enters my life, head, heart, and soul, and Ryder relaxes.
“You should see a specialist about your trust issues,” I tell him, dropping into my seat.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He drapes an arm over Bianca’s shoulder once she takes a seat beside him.
They make an interesting couple.
Ryder’s the most stoic out of us. His temper’s buried deep and rarely rears its head. I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I’ve seen him lose his shit.
Bianca, on the other hand, is loud, fun, and ready to party. She’s the heart of the girl group, always the first to take a shot and hit the dancefloor.
“Happy birthday!” Hailey’s melodic voice fills my ears as she enters the VIP section with Carter in tow.
“Oh, fuck me,” I breathe, spotting the bottle in his hand. I saidno giftsbut I sure as hell won’t saynotoa twenty-three-year-oldPappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve.It’s almost impossible to find one in the wild. “Where’d you get it?”
“Don’t ask,” he says. “I sold a kidney, but since you saidno fucking or fighting, I had to dig up something you’d enjoy tonight.” He hands me the bottle and drops his palm onto my shoulder, squeezing once. “Happy birthday.”
“No, but seriously, where did you get it?”
“I’ve made some interesting friends. There’s more where that came from, but it costs an arm, a leg, and your sanity, considering the guy I bought it from is a bigger fucking menace than you are.”
I stare at the label in awe, tracing the letters with my thumb before I summon a waitress. “Four tumblers.”
She nods, scurrying to the bar. Once she’s back I pour us all two fingers. Neat, of course. Watering this down should be punishable by death.
