Page 102 of Bastard Bartender

He raises his eyebrows at me. “Does this bring back some memories?”

I smile and bring my pointer finger to my bottom lip in thought. “A few. Like the day I first met you, standing over there.” I point to the service well, where Marie and I would sit and talk with him while he worked. “How about when I threw my drink on you over there?”

He steps closer, pulling me into him. “The pool room is my favorite. You let me get so close that I had a semi the rest of my shift.” He pauses and looks behind us to the parking lot. “Or …”

When his eyes meet mine, I raise my finger at him. “Don’t you dare say it.”

“Say what?” Marie asks.

“That we first had sex in the back of her car in this parking lot during my shift,” Nic says nonchalantly.

I cover my face in embarrassment.

“You slut!” Marie says, totally kidding. “I was so proud of you when you told me.”

“You told her?” Nic asks.

“Duh. I got down and dirty with the hot bartender. She was totally jealous.”

“Hey now, she was just fine and dandy on her own at home,” Sammy busts into the conversation, making us all laugh.

“There he is, that fine specimen of a man who left my world so dull back here in Vegas,” Mario—I mean, Destiny yells as she approaches us, wearing a stunning sequined cocktail dress.

“Yay!” I squeal in complete surprise of seeing her here.

We kiss on both cheeks like we’re European and jump up and down in excitement.

“I didn’t know you’d be here! Did you know?” I ask Nic.

“Of course he did, sweetheart. He called and invited us,” Destiny says as she gives me a big hug.

“Us?” I look behind her to see Logan and Dro are here as well.

“The whole gang’s here!” I walk over and give hugs to them. “It’s so good to see you guys.”

Nic walks to the bar to order our drinks, handing them out to everyone as soon as they’re made. We hang on to them, ready for our start of the night cheers.

When they’re all handed out, Nic raises his glass. “To good times.”

“To good friends,” Logan chimes in.

“You mean, gorgeous friends,” Destiny adds, and we laugh.

“Getting laid,” Dro adds.

“And getting hitched,” Marie calls out.

“I’ll second that!” Sammy chants.

“To all the adventures, big and small,” I say, and everyone clinks glasses.

We drink and laugh and dance and have the best time. It might be months between when we get to see our Vegas friends, but when we get together, it’s as if no time has passed at all.

When the song changes on the speaker system, I hear a familiar nineties R&B beat and turn to Nic. “You didn’t!”

“Oh, yes, I did.” He holds up his phone and shows the TouchTunes app on the screen.

“Scrubs” by TLC plays, and I push him playfully on the chest. “You’re incorrigible.”