Page 46 of In Spades

I sputtered on my beer when I heard Hannah Jane drop an F-bomb. She was always so proper.

“What?” Hannah snapped, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve never heard a woman enunciate the word fuck like a fucking lady?”

Bridget hustled behind the bar and placed a margarita in front of Hannah. “Drink it. Now.”

Hannah complied, still glaring at me.

“Sorry,” Bridget said, giving me an apologetic smile. “She gets a little cranky when she’s horny.”

“I do not!” Hannah shouted.

Bridget pointed to the cocktail in front of Hannah. “Drink your alcohol like a good girl.”

My phone vibrated on top of the suspiciously sticky bar. I grabbed it, hoping that it was…

Kristin

If it’s worth anything, I really wish I could’ve had that cup of coffee with you this afternoon.

I grinned when I saw her name but quickly straightened my face. Too late.

“Awww!” Maddie cooed. “If she’s texting him, it’s not as bad as we thought.”

“Sitting right here, ladies,” I said awkwardly.

“Where’s Chase?” Maddie asked, ignoring me as she scanned the room for her friend. “I thought he was coming out tonight.”

Bridget picked up an empty glass and swiped the bar towel across a ring of condensation. “He’s probably not coming.”

“Why not?” Hannah said, reaching over and stealing a fry off my plate.

“Oh, sure, help yourself,” I mumbled.

Maddie and Bridget shared an are you serious kind of look.

I barely knew these people, but even I knew why Chase wouldn’t show up.

After Bridget’s fiancé showed up at the bar and made things sufficiently awkward for everyone, Kristin had spilled a little of the history between Chase and Bridget. I felt for the guy. The friend zone sucked.

Hannah Jane shrugged. “I figured he went to check on things at Kristin’s place. Or went to hang out with Steve and Erica.”

“Why would he go to Kristin’s?” The words escaped me before I could stop them.

“Aww!” Bridget and Hannah Jane cooed in sync.

“Oh, he’s got it bad,” Maddie grinned.

I drained my beer and told Bridget I was switching to water as she ran off to grab plates out of the kitchen window.

“I wanna take her out on a friggin’ date, but she won’t say yes.” I tried and failed to restrain the frustration in my voice.

“Has she said that she doesn’t want to go out with you?” Maddie asked.

“Not that she doesn’t want to,” I said, shaking my head. “Just that she can’t, but wishes she could.”

Maddie and Hannah Jane shared a look I didn’t quite understand. After a pregnant pause, Maddie grabbed my phone.

“Leave it to us,” she said, putting her number in my contacts. “When are you free next week? But not Monday. We have poker night on Mondays.”

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