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That’s exactly what they are. They’re filed to sharp points.
It’s not against policy to drink with the crowd—we just have to be smart about it. Something tells me that drinking with this group wouldn’t be smart.
“Sorry, ladies, not tonight,” I say, pulling my arm from under her hold. When she moves her hand to my ass, I fight the urge to tell her off.
“You enjoy yourselves, though.” I leave the group to their tequila and tell Colie that she can bring the next round.
I’m not above flirting with patrons, but I don’t enjoy being pawed at, and that Megan is a pawer.
“Are you afraid of a bunch of girls?” Colie teases, watching as I line up the next set of tequila shots.
“Nope, not at all, but I’m also not in the mood to be eye fucked and fondled.”
Colie bursts out laughing. “Oh, you’re a hoot, Jake Wesley.”
Years before, well before I started, the pub put in place a very firm No Touching rule but it mostly applied to the male patrons and the female staff. We get the occasional new guy who wanders in and breaks the rule, but they learn pretty quickly that it isn’t tolerated.
Our group—Travis aside—is like a small family unit and you don’t mess with family.
After Colie sends over the next round of shots, she comes back to close the group out.
“Already?” I ask, wiping down a section of bar after a patron left. Maybe I made a mistake in not personally sending the second set of shots over. It’s never a good thing when a larger group is only in the building for ten minutes.
“They have five more places to hit, the birthday girl informed me. Gonna be a long night for them.” Colie chuckles as she closes out the tab, printing out the check.
It’s only a few more minutes before the group heads toward the exit, Megan in front and Sophia in the back. I watch as they push through the doors—and I don’t bother examining why it feels like I have to pull my gaze away from the last woman of the pack.
CHAPTERTWO
Sophia
I’m not reallythe “go out and drink” type. One, I’m a lightweight compared to my friends and always have been. Two, I’ve never really seen the point in getting so wasted that you were in physical pain the next day. But then also three, if I ever want to drink, I’d much rather do it in my comfies while on the couch, watching whatever latest movie is being streamed on any of my numerous streaming apps.
But I haven’t hung out with the girls in a few months, and all six of them took turns in making me feel like I was a party pooper for not wanting to come out tonight for Megan’s birthday.
We’re only three bars in and I already know that this night is going to take a lot out of me. It already has.
I’m your classic introvert. I need quiet and solitude to recharge, and while I don’t mind going out with my closest friends, as one hour drags into two it takes its toll.
It’s a good thing that we decided to walk tonight—these girls don’t seem to give two flying shits how much alcohol they’re consuming and I’m pretty sure everyone is wasted already.
I took one shot at the first place but then faked the second round. No one noticed that my glass wasn’t empty when I placed it back down. They were all more excited to move to the next place.
Then the next.
Where we’re at now, the music is so loud that it may as well be a club.
But no.
It’s just a bar.
As an old Justin Timberlake song comes on and the bass drops, my friends begin to scream in excitement. I plaster a smile on my face and rock my hips, pretending to enjoy myself when all I really want to do is go home.
People Pleaser Sophia will probably be out with the girls all night.
Mostly because I don’t know how to say, “Hey, I’m leaving. Have fun.”
We’re not in college anymore though, not that the six of them seem to realize that.
