Page 23 of Dr. Sexypants

“You know it,” my friend replied with a grin.

When Josie walked away, Lainey murmured, “I’m going to get your ass drunk so you’ll start talking about what happened with you and Justin.”

“You promised if I helped you out this morning, you wouldn’t bring it up again.”

“I’m not going to. You’ll start talking once you’ve got some tequila flowing through your veins.”

“You think you know me so well.”

Spoiler alert: She did.

~~~~

Two shots and one beer later and I was spilling my guts to Lainey and her sister while Brian and Adam sat at a nearby table.

“And then I went home,” I sighed as I dragged my finger along the scratches on the wooden bar.

“Hold on,” Jade said. “Did he tell you he wanted you to go home?”

“No, he actually wanted me to stay, but I didn’t want it to be weird in the morning. Besides, he started talking about dating and shit.”

“Since when are you opposed to dating?”

“You know I don’t do anything serious.”

Lainey took a swig of beer before asking, “Did he say he wanted serious?”

“Kind of. He talked about it being inevitable that the grapevine would find out about us.”

“You’ve casually dated plenty of people the grapevine knew about.”

“Yeah, but he hasn’t. Name one person he’s dated since he came back to town.”

Jade looked over at Lainey. “She’s right.”

“Oh shit. I hadn’t thought about it like that.” She took another drink then continued, “I mean, he’s a good guy. Maybe he’s someone you could settle down with.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

“Do you even hear yourself right now? It’s like you don’t even know me!”

She smiled. “I do know you. Justin isn’t like any of the other guys you’ve dated.”

I opened my mouth to protest when Rafael Martinez, Hannigan’s owner, stood on a chair and announced, “Get ready everyone, they’re in the parking lot!”

“What does that mean?” I asked as I looked between the Beaumont sisters. “It’s not like everyone in the bar can hide.”

Lainey hopped off her barstool. “I think we’re just supposed to be ready to yell, “Surprise!” when he comes through the door.”

I was comfy in my chair, and I worried we wouldn’t get our seats back if we abandoned them.

Jade followed her sister’s lead and got down, too.

Unmoving, I asked, “We can’t yell it from here?”

“No! Come on!”

With a sigh, I awkwardly slid off the barstool in my tipsy state, then tilted it forward against the wooden grain, followed by Lainey’s, then Jade’s.