All four women stare at me with glassy, round owl-eyes, blinking slowly.
“Wow,” Kate whispers. “So what are you gonna do?”
“Keep having sex with him?”
“No, like, after that,” Gabby says, petting a pair of suede boots.
“Sleep?”
“Okay, focus,” Kate says and takes me by the shoulders, looking me in the eye. “What is going to happen in the long term?”
“I don’t know,” I reply and frown. “That’s scary to think about.”
“Just be nice to him,” Gabby says. “Of all our guys, Declan is the most sensitive. It’s probably the artistic side of him.”
“I’m nice to him,” I reply. “I want to give him head, but he hasn’t given me a chance to yet.”
“Does he go downtown on you?” Charly asks.
“Hell yes. On pianos.”
“Wow,” they all reply in awe.
“Yeah. He has mad skills.”
“So, we’re a little drunk, and I really like you, but I have to say this part,” Kate says and pushes her red hair back over her shoulders. “Don’t be a bitch to him. Like, ever. Because we will kick your ass.”
“You’re pretty possessive for someone who isn’t related by blood.” I cock my hip out and brace my hand on it and try to look badass, but I’m pretty sure I’m failing.
“I like her,” Van says with a smile. “She has gumption.”
“I’m as close to blood-related to Declan as it gets,” Kate says and mirrors my stance. She looks more badass than I do, I’m sure. “I’ve known Declan for more than ten years, and he’s special to me.”
“Okay. Got it.”
“So don’t be a bitch.”
“But, what if it’s sometimes just in my nature to be a bitch, but it’s not on purpose?” I ask sincerely. “Because sometimes I just am.”
“That doesn’t count, because we all do that,” Charly says. “She’s talking about the on-purpose kind.”
“Oh good.” I sigh and smile. “I can do that.”
“I don’t want to stop drinking,” Van whines. “I feel good and I want to stay this way.”
“We can’t go bar hopping with a bunch of shoe boxes,” Gabby says.
“Leave them here and come pick them up tomorrow,” Charly says. “That’s easier.”
“We can go drink at my bar,” I offer without thinking. “On me.”
“You don’t have to give us free drinks,” Kate says.
“But if you really want to, who are we to argue? Let’s go!” Gabby grabs Van's and Charly’s hands and leads us out of the shop.
“Wait! I have to lock up!”
We wait for Charly to lock the door, and then the five of us stumble down the sidewalk to my bar, just three blocks over. When we file in and walk to the bar, Adam looks up and grins.
“Hello there, ladies.”
“Oh, you’re cute,” Van says and leans over the bar toward him, as if she’s going to tell him a secret. “I haven’t gotten laid in a long time, hot stuff.”
Adam laughs and pats her hand as Gabby tries to pull Van off the bar.
“I’m sorry to hear that. You’re too beautiful to not have all kinds of men knocking on your door.”
“Really cute,” Van says to Gabby and then giggles.
“Drinks are on us tonight,” I inform him and gesture toward the stairs to the roof. “We’re going up where it’s private.”
“I’ll have Jessica stay down here and I’ll go up and pour drinks for you guys,” he offers, and I simply nod and lead the girls upstairs.
“Oh, it’s so pretty up here,” Kate says, taking a deep breath. “Look! Café du Monde is right there! I want beignets.”
“Later,” Charly says and plops down in one of the plush couches. I turn on the gas fireplaces for light and heat and walk to the bar.
“Shall we keep drinking wine?” I ask.
“Shots first!” Gabby yells and runs to the bar just as Adam comes upstairs. “The hot guy can pour us shots.”
“The hot guy can,” Adam agrees and winks at her. “What’s your poison?”