Yeah, no shit. She’s had at least two shots of vodka and two tequilas, and she’s a lightweight, you know. I’m surprised she’s not on the floor. Tex isn’t a big drinker, so when she toughs it without the mixer, she’s done for. I, on the other hand, could have whiskey in my cereal, and it wouldn’t affect me.
Another important thing Mark taught me was, learn how to fucking handle your drink because, as soon as you start getting a name for yourself, they turn up for free. Not that I couldn’t handle it before, but now, I’m pretty certain my liver is pickled.
“Come on, little drunk,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her up. “To the bar.”
Laughing, she rests against my shoulder as we walk. “We should just stay at the bar.”
I lean against the chunky glass top, and she sits on the only free stool. Resting her chin on her hands, she watches me. Women look at me that way constantly. I’ve grown accustomed to it, but with Texas, it knocks my feet from under me every time.
“Your staring is weird,” I say, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye.
Shrugging her shoulder, she runs her eyes over my face.
The bartender stops in front of us.
“Water, please.”
Tex laughs. “I do hope you’re not ordering that for me.”
“Why? Don’t you think you’ve had more than enough?”
“No, I don’t. We’re having fun here, and I like the buzz.”
“You won’t like it tomorrow when there’s less buzz and more puke.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“I bet you a grand that if you keep drinking, you’ll be sick tomorrow.”
Her back straightens, and she folds her arms. “I’ll take that bet. And another drink, please.”
My grin widening, I order a couple of tequilas, too. “You ready to lose, baby?”
“I don’t lose.”
“We’ll see.”
We down another three shots, and I’m absolutely going to be a grand richer tomorrow.
She tilts her head back and laughs. “You’re funny.”
I haven’t said anything.
I love my girl drunk.
She lays her head on my shoulder and sighs. “Sometimes, I wish my dad wasn’t who he is. My life would be less complicated.”
“You could be the most famous person on the planet or a normal person with a nine-to-five, and nothing about your life would be easy. Complicated is built in from the moment we’re born. If something is easy, Tex, you don’t want it.”
“Tequila is easy, and I want that.”
I laugh and lay my head against hers. “Yeah, your opinion on that one is going to change in the morning.”
“I guess, by those standards, we’re going to be together forever then? Because there is nothing easy or straightforward here.”
“Do you honestly think I’m in this for anything less than forever? We said no getting bored, remember? I don’t like to waste my time, Tex. It’s why I kept women to one night and nothing more.”
“You’re always so sure of yourself and what you want.”
“Yep.” I down another shot and run my finger around the rim of the glass.
“At least you’re not making it obvious,” Peyton says, interrupting us.
Tex and I sit straighter.
Peyton rests her arms on the bar. “As far as covert goes, you both need a lot of work.”
Tex rolls her eyes. “You’ve been dry-humping Coop on the dance floor.”
“Yeah, that one kind of crept up on me.” Her mouth twists from unsure to excitement. “He’s yummy though. In a gross way.”
“You often grind on the cock of someone you find gross?” I ask innocently.
Peyton looks at Tex while jabbing her thumb towards me. “Him? Really?”
I laugh. “The real question is, why would it be anyone else?”
Tex gives me a sultry smile. “I’ve developed a very useful tool. I can now block out the cocky.”
I nudge her arm. “Shut up. You love the cocky.”
Her eyes drift back to Pey.
Tex only left it there because she can’t lie. She loves it when I’m cocky, and I love it when she’s angry and unreasonable.
We’re perfect together.
Coop wraps his arms around Pey’s waist, and the blonde’s eyes darken. Oh, yeah, she really finds him gross.
“Hey, man, we’re going to take off. Can you get Tex back safe?” Coop asks me.
“Tex, you okay with that?” Peyton asks.
“Yep, I’m good,” she replies. “You two go and have fun.”
“We intend to,” Coop replies, wiggling his eyebrows.
Peyton used to be immune to Coop’s charms. He’d tried it on her so many times before, and every time, he would be met with a brick wall. I have no idea what’s going on, but she’s obviously had a change of heart. The way she’s looking at him now is incredibly inappropriate for a public place.
“You sure?” Peyton presses, giving Tex a pointed look.
“Totally. Make sure he wraps up, yeah?”
Coop rolls his eyes and leads Peyton to the exit. Rule one for all of us is, where women are concerned, be careful. We didn’t need to learn that from Mark, but seeing his struggles sure helped.
Texas gets off the stool and takes a deep breath. “We should leave, too. I’m tired.”