Alice came in first, grinning like she was already halfway into a good night, with Wren, Clove, Star, and Bell right behind her.They came in as a pack, loud and bright and taking up space in a way only women who knew they were welcome ever did.
“Lord,” Basil muttered, “Alice is on the loose.”
That got a laugh out of Ender.
I turned back to the bar and pointed at Thorn.“Water’s gone.Beer me.”
Thorn didn’t move.
Instead, he looked past me, gaze shifting over my shoulder.His mouth kicked up on one side.“And the reason for Jude’s drinking problem just walked in behind her.”
Everything in me went still.
I looked over my shoulder.
And there she was.
Ever.
Fuck.
I turned back around slower than I should have.
Like if I took my time, she wouldn’t actually be there when I looked again.
Didn’t work.
Ever was still standing just inside the entrance, a step behind Alice and the rest of them, like she hadn’t meant to come in with that much noise.She paused for half a second, taking in the room the way people did when they first walked into the Social Club.Eyes moving, shoulders tightening just a little under the weight of it.
Then she spotted the bar.
Spotted us.
She shifted her weight, adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder, then followed the rest of them in.
Thorn didn’t say anything.He just kept watching me.
That was getting real old.
“Beer,” I said again, tapping the bar.
He ignored it.
Of course, he did.
Alice led the group toward a table off to the side, already talking, already laughing.Wren and Bell slid into chairs, Star grabbing one of the stools and spinning it around like she couldn’t sit still if she tried.
Clove dropped into the seat next to Ender.
Ever hung back a second longer.
Then she moved toward the bar.
My fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the wood before I forced them to loosen.
She walked up and stopped a couple stools down from me instead of right next to me.
That was new.
