“Sarah seems nice,” Jules says.
I hum, agreeing. “Better looking in person, too.”
Jules gives me a disapproving look, but come on. I’ve only ever seen her inside a small box on a computer the few times I jumped in on their D&D sessions. She’s always given me a good vibe, though, naturally kind and easygoing in the way my brother needs.
Chloe steps beside Jules with a plateful of food and joins us in watching Mason dote on his date. “Think Mason will get lucky tonight?”
“Ew.” And that’s the end of that conversation for me.
“I mean, he shaved,” Chloe supplies.
“What does that have anything to do with anything?” Jules asks.
Chloe shrugs. “I dunno. Some girls don’t like a bush in their, you know, bush.”
“What are you even talking about?” I say at the same time Jules says, “That’s not a thing.”
A server walks by with a tray of red and white wine. He’s young, probably only a couple years older than we are, and he flashes us a wink. “Ladies.”
“Hi,” Chloe says breathlessly and stares at him as he walks past. “He’s hot. There are a lot of hotties working this party.”
She’s not wrong. It’s the country club’s busy season, packed with weddings, so I guess it makes sense that a place like this would be a good way to make some extra bucks for the local college kids.
The server, come to find out when Chloe calls him back, is named Thom, and he has no problem pretending that we’re not underage. He lets us grab two glasses each and disappears with his empty tray and another wink.
“Does he have something in his eye?” Jules asks. I almost spit my Sovereign Blanc all over her brand-new dress.
Mom gives us a knowing look when we pass but says nothing, and thankfully, the Marrows feel the same because the only one who gives us crap about drinking is Aunt Helen, and I pretend I can’t hear her sitting across the table when we sit to eat.
Once dinner is finished, the deejay finally kicks it into gear, and the dance floor officially opens. Chloe disappears to find Thom, and Jules makes the obligatory rounds with me so I can thank everyone for coming, which is way more fun with her on my arm.
Midway through a conversation with one of Richard’s cousins, Jules tightly grabs my arm when the familiar notes of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” pumps through the speakers. Whitney has always been one of our weaknesses. Taking that as my cue, I politely pose for one more picture and then allow Jules to lead me to the dance floor.
Several songs later, when we’re winded and sweaty, we head to the bar for a break and some water. The bartender, Jensen, also doesn’t ask for our IDs, and we take advantage. He tries to make small talk with Jules while he mixes her a strawberry margarita, blatantly staring at the dip in her dress.
I’m tempted to tell him to direct his gaze further north or suffer the wrath of my fist.
“On the house.” He flashes Jules a smile and begrudgingly tends to the line forming at the other end of the counter.
“On the house? Isn’t it an open bar?” Jules asks me with a confused look.
I roll my eyes because of course she would miss the fact that he was flirting and staring. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that Jensen is trying to get in your thong.”
Jules picks up her margarita and slowly stirs it with her straw. After a beat, she leans into my space. “And how do you know I’m wearing a thong?” She wraps her lips around her straw and peers at me through her thick lashes while taking a sip.
I just about fall off my stool. I’ve never heard her voice so purposefully breathy and seductive, and definitely not directed at me. Is she being serious? Or is she just messing around?
There’s only one way to find out. I meet her gaze. “No panty lines.”
I’m prepared for her to smack my arm and call me a pervert, not for her to lean farther in and brush her lips against my ear. “How do you know I’m wearing anything at all?”
A jolt shoots straight through me. A flash of desire so strong it almost hurts.
She takes another long sip of her drink and arches a brow. I stare at her mouth and blindly fumble for my Jack and Coke.
“Well played,” I murmur, not sure I can keep going with this kind of flirting. Especially when it’ll lead to a one-way path to nowhere.
Thankfully, things seem to go back to normal after that. Mom and Richard cut their cake and make another round with the guests and even manage a dance or two. Jules, Chloe, and I maintain an even buzz, thanks to Jenson and Thom, but we’re careful not to get too tipsy and cause a scene.
