Page 91 of Talk Wicked to Me

“Put your damn hand down before you get me in trouble,” Gunner said.

Everyone laughed.

“If anyone says anything to you, just take the high road,” Leah suggested. “That’s what I did.”

“Or you could do what I do when they think Dante is up for grabs and tell them to fuck off,” Marly said, sparking more laughter as Starr approached the table.

“Hey, Baz. Good to see you, Emerson,” Starr said. “Before I take your orders, you might want to consider the drink of the night. It’s called the Rumors Are True.”

The guys roared with laughter.

“That was a smooth move, Romeo,” Starr said. “Impressive, too.”

“I’ll show you something impressive.” Zander stood up and grabbed the button on his jeans.

“Please don’t.” Starr held her hand up. “We don’t want to scare the customers away.”

“I get it. You don’t want anyone getting jealous.” Zander winked as he sat down.

Starr took their orders for drinks and appetizers, and as she walked away, Sid said, “Can we take a moment to celebrate the phenomenal job Baz and Chloe did of getting adoption applications today? Thanks to their baby-solid sales strategies, twenty-eight animals will have new homes within the next week.”

There was a round of cheers and congratulations. Baz and Chloe high-fived. They’d each gotten fourteen applications.

“I think you should be celebrating Marybelle and Little B,” Maverick said. Everyone agreed they were the show stealers. “Zeke said when Little B prospects the club, he’s got a built-in road name. Spike.”

Everyone laughed.

“Hey, don’t make fun of my boy,” Emerson said. “I like his spiky hair.”

“So do we, darlin’. That road name is an honor,” Baz explained.

“Oh, in that case, I like it! Where is Zeke? He said he was coming tonight.”

“Aria’s acting sketchy again,” Zander said. “He went to see what’s up, and he’s going to try to get her to come out with us.”

“Is Aria Zeke’s girlfriend?” Emerson asked.

“No, but she should be,” Zander said.

“Zan,” Blaine warned.

“What?” Zander snapped. “It’s true, and everyone at this table knows it.”

“I didn’t mean to start trouble,” Emerson said.

“You didn’t. Zeke and Aria’s friendship is complicated, and Zander has no patience for complications,” Baz explained.

Zander splayed his hands. “What can I say? I’m a doer. Get-’er-done-and-move-on.”

“I’m not sure that move-on part is something to brag about,” Emerson pointed out.

“Hear! Hear!” Steph said, lifting her drink as Brandy, Evie’s big, beautiful older sister, breezed up to the table eyeing Evie and Quinton.

“Hi, everyone,” Brandy said. She looked pretty in a turquoise halter dress, her kinky red mane hanging past her shoulders.

“Hey, Brandy!” As Madigan waved from across the table, the others chimed in with greetings. “What’s going on?”

“I heard my sister has a new man, and I had to check him out.” Brandy pointed playfully at Quinton. “Is this him, Evie? He’s cute.”