“You only get your first goal in the Big Show once!” he argued. “Tabs on me, bud!”
I felt Ellie pat my leg and laugh at my expense as the waitresses passed around shot glasses and poured drinks for the whole team and their ladies.
Right as the waitress poured my drink, I heard a high-pitched, “I’m so sorry!” from across our little circle. I looked up to see Brody trying to clean up a drink that had apparently spilled in his lap. He suddenly stopped moving and turned to look back at the bar where Adrienne was staring him down with a set jaw and arms crossed in front of her chest.
That was… a development. It was obvious that Adrienne had somehow set up that little spill to happen. It wasn’t my business though. Seemed like Brody had some shit to figure out.
I turned my attention back to Ellie.
“Well, cheers,” I said and tapped my shot glass to hers.
She looked at her glass hesitantly.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I whispered. “I’ll take it quick forya?”
“Nah, I want to,” she said decisively. “I haven’t been to a bar in forever.”
“Well, I’m glad I can show you a fun time, babe,” I told her. “Cheers.”
I watched as she threw the drink back, and I proceeded to as well. Her face scrunched up in disapproval as the alcohol hit her. I chuckled as I handed her the cocktail I had ordered for her earlier to wash it down.
When chatting ensued again, Ellie comfortably laid her head against my arm, and I enjoyed feeling taken for once. I’d gotten so used to always jealously watching the couples, and now I was finally part of one. Today felt like a turning point in my life. Like I’d finally made it and now I just needed to build from here… with her.
At some point, one of the guys brought out a deck of cards, and we started playing a drinking game called waterfall. Basically you had to pick up a card and slide it under the can’s pop top and avoid making it crack open. Each card number had an action to go along with it as well. I tried to keep up with explaining the game to Ellie, but the group did a good job of making it self-explanatory.
When I drew a six from the deck, the group yelled, “Dicks!” meaning all the guys had to take adrink.
When Ellie was up, she grabbed a nine and the group called out, “Nine, bust a rhyme!”
She looked at me questioningly.
“Just choose a word and everyone after you has to say something that rhymes with it. The person who can’t rhyme has to drink,” I whispered.
She raised her eyebrows and then addressed the group. “Beer!”
“Dear,” I said.
“Spear,” Savannah contributed.
“Meer,” Duke called out confidently.
“Meer?!” Everyone yelled at him simultaneously. He held his arms up and tried to argue his point, but the group wouldn’t let it pass.
“Like a meer campaign, to make someone look bad, ya know?” He pushed.
Savannah slapped a hand to her forehead. “That’s a smear campaign, doofus!”
“Oh, shoot,” Duke stood up and drank, giving the group what they wanted.
After a while, I could tell Ellie was starting to yawn and sway a bit in her seat.
“Wanna peace out of here? We can pretend we’re going to get another drink,” I suggested.
She looked at her glass and then proceeded to chug therest.
“Damn, girl,” I rubbed her back and chuckled.
She placed her empty cup on the table in front of her, then tapped my shoulder and said, “Lead the way.”
