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“And whatever Margo had,” I add.
“You have a good night.”
She mutters something incoherent but derogatory and I chuckle as I walk out of the bar.
If her friend knew that I’d seen Margo pull out of Sugar & Coal, followed her here…
She’d probably put me on the ground. Maybe stab me with that knife.
I wonder idly if the lime juice would make it sting more.
I slide into my sports car and drive a few blocks to Envy. There’s a line out the door, and Marcus stands near the entrance with a scowl on his face, his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
He looks more like a bouncer than the actual bouncer does, and when I walk up to him, I take him by the elbow and steer him away from the entrance.
“You know I hate places like this, Hayes.”
Marcus Sterling and I have been friends since high school, and he’s never liked crowds. It’s like pulling teeth to get him out of the house most days.
“I know. Where’s Gabe?”
“He’s parking the car.”
“Gabe’s designated driver?”
Marcus shrugs. “Says he doesn’t want to drink much. Wants to keep his mind clear.”
“For what?”
“Fuck if I know.”
That’s Marcus, for you. Gregarious as always.
Gabriel Rivera walks up from the parking garage, looking down at the ground as he walks. Seems like he hasn’t picked his head up since Lois died five years ago.
His brown eyes meet mine as he gets closer and the hint of a smile plays at the corner of his mouth.
He stands next to Marcus and they’re nearly four feet wide between the two of them.
“Jesus,” I mutter. “You two look like a couple of linebackers. Let’s get in line, you two are scaring off all the women.”
“What do you need women for?” Marcus asks. “I thought you said you picked a wish.”
“I did. The more the merrier.”
Marcus snorts out a rare laugh and Gabe’s smile finally surfaces.
“At least he’s consistent,” Gabe says to Marcus, and they nod like there’s a joke I’m not in on.
I frown. “Let’s go inside.”
“There’s a line a mile long,” Marcus points out.
“Not for me.”
I take out my wallet and Gabe groans.
“Not with the money again.”
