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Where We Stay

Page 75

by Madeleine Rose

Okay.

Maybe I look a little too good for a casual night at The Breakwater.

And maybe—just maybe—I’m hoping a certain mechanic notices.

Not that I dressed for him.

Obviously.

I walk next door and knock on Georgie’s door.

She swings it open dramatically. “Damn, babe. Are you dressing for the occasion or a certain hot dad?”

“Shut up. This is casual, isn’t it?” I look down at myself. “Fuck. Should I change?”

“Don’t overthink it. You look hot as fuck.” She grabs her purse and pulls the door shut behind her. “Now let’s go. I need a cocktail.”

The cab Georgie arranged drops us outside The Breakwater twenty minutes later.

The bar is packed, but we spot Mallory and Rory in a booth near the back. As we get closer, I realize they aren’t alone.

Logan, Knox and Dean are with them.

Dean looks up as we approach, and his gaze catches on me. It moves slowly over my outfit before returning to my face.

The attention sends heat across my skin.

Worth it.

“Boo,” Georgie complains, sliding into the booth beside Mallory. “This was supposed to be girls’ night.”

“Don’t be mad, G,” Knox says, finishing his beer. “We couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

Georgie rolls her eyes and flags down a bartender whose name I think is Clint.

“Clive!” she calls. “Bring us a round of tequila shots. Stat.”

Right. Clive.

“You always order people around like you own them?” Logan asks pointedly.

Georgie turns toward him. “I’m sorry, Logan. Did I offend you? Last I heard, you weren’t invited.”

The air between them shifts.

Well, that was weird.

“Why are you guys here?” I ask, partly to defuse the tension and partly because I want to know why Dean came.

“Rory told me about girls’ night,” Knox explains as Clive sets down the shots. “I told Logan, Logan told Dean, and we collectively decided to crash.”

“To keep us safe or use us as an excuse to drink?” I ask.

“Both.” Knox picks up a shot. “Although big daddy over there isn’t drinking. Apparently, he was worried you girls might need a ride home.”

Dean shoots him a warning look.

Something warm settles in my chest.