Page 4 of Laugh

He looks like a cross between Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pine, only without the smiles. His dirty dark blonde hair looks messy, but in the way that guys style it so it reminds you of bedroom hair. Just enough to hold on to, but not hanging all the way in his eyes. He’s got a straight broad nose, masculine features with a rugged edge to them. Although that’s probably more due to the ‘probably hasn’t shaved for a few days’ unkempt beard he’s sporting. Eyes blue enough that I can see them across the table in the dim light of the bar.

“Haddie?” My gaze is wrenched from his face over to my friend. Shit, I think my face was frozen with that damn eyebrow hitting my hairline. I’m only able to look at her for a minute before I’m drawn back to look at Captain Thor.

This time, his eyebrow is mimicking mine and paired with a scowl. “Happy? Your name is Happy?”

The other girls giggle at the fact that he couldn’t get my name right. It’s not like it’s any harder than Addie. Honestly, though? I kinda love it.

“No, it’s–” Amber starts to answer him, but I cut her off.

Crossing my arms and leaning back into my chair, I smirk. “Yup. Happy is absolutely my name, Captain Thor.”

“Captain Thor?” A look of confusion crosses his face, and I hold back a shudder at the way his voice scrapes across my skin. It matches his body, big and manly. Deep. Sort of where I’d like him to be if I were a girl who thought about those kinds of things, which I am.

“Captain Thor, Kirk of Thunder… unless you prefer to go by Chris?” The girls all stare at me except for Addie, who’s covering her mouth trying not to laugh out loud. The guy next to me, Garrett, I think, starts laughing.

“Good lord, I can’t believe I never saw it,” he says, then winks at me.

“Saw what?” Beau asks, pulling his arm away from Amber and crossing them to match my pose. I feel like I should put my elbows on the table and lean forward to see if he’ll keep copying me.

Pointing at him, I circle his face. “Dude, you’re like a cross between Captain Kirk and Thor. Chris and Chris.” Looking around at the rest of the table, I ask, “I’m not wrong, am I? It’s uncanny.”

Kandii, who’s sitting on the opposite side of Beau from where Bamber is, titters and twirls her hair at him. “You really do look like Thor, muscles and all.” She runs her hand up his bicep and I deflate a little when he looks away from me and at her with a flirty smile.

I swear to God, he flexed his arm under her hand, causing my fingers to twitch with the desire to feel what she’s feeling.

“Here you go, Haddie. I brought you a double.” Ricky leans over my shoulder to set down two shot glasses of tequila, along with a couple of limes. Gripping my shoulder, he leans in and whispers, “You look like you already need these.”

Once he stands back up, I turn my head to look up at him. “You just earned yourself an extra-large tip, my friend.” Then, letting my eyes roam around the table, I notice Beau is staring at me again. I don’t take my eyes off him as I call out over my shoulder, “Ricky! Wait up a second!”

He pauses in his escape. “Whatcha need?”

Time to test my theory. I lean forward and place my elbows on the table and stare right at Beau, even though I address the entire table. “Did you all want Ricky to grab a round of drinks for everyone? I’d be happy to buy the shots if you all want one with me?”

Some of the guys start calling out their orders while others agree to a shot. Beau stays silent and eventually leans forward to put his elbows on the table. My smile grows, and I try to contain my laughter when his eyes narrow on me. “Chris, did you want a shot as well?”

“It’s Beau, and sure, if everyone else is doing one.” He speaks slowly, seemingly unsure of what to make of me.

“Beau…” my sister purrs at him, pressing her breasts against his arm. “I’ll take a shot with you, too.”

“I’m game!” Kandii calls out.

“Ricky…” I purr, mimicking Amber, unable to cut the sarcasm out of my voice so she can hear how ridiculous she sounds. “Would you mind grabbing a round for everyone?”

Chuckling, he finishes writing down everyone’s drinks orders. “Sure thing, Haddie.”

“You must be a regular here if he knows to keep the drinks coming for you,” Garrett says. I look over at him with a smile. He’s handsome, a little too pretty for my taste, but he seems nice.

“I am. My friend Marcus and I only ever come here if we decide to go out. You want one of these?” I hold out a shot to him and he accepts. “Wait!” I stop him from taking it, his hand pausing midair. “I have to make a toast. It’s tradition.”

“It really is, Garrett,” Addie tells him. She’s leaning into Jensen, and I think I see his hand playing with her hair at the back of her head. “Haddie and Marcus are both super proud of their heritage and compete over who can come up with the better toast. It’s hilarious.”

Tilting his head to the side, Garrett nods his head and holds his shot up. “I’m all ears.”

Holding mine up, I tap his glass, enjoying the clink. “May you die at ninety-five under the covers, shot in the head by a jealous lover.” He laughs as we both take our shots before dropping them to the table with a loud thunk.

Everyone chats amongst themselves while we wait for the round I ordered. I slip out my phone and sneak a photo of Amber hanging on Beau’s arm before sending it on to Marcus.

Me: Pretty sure this is her goal for the evening. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous… he’s hot. Don’t think he likes me much.

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