Page 43 of Eight Steps to Alpha

She stalled for a good second, then sat forward and set her mouth in a straight line. “My great grandmother was Native American, I went through a vegan stage in high school and ate nothing but Oreos for a month. Sometimes I wish I had a sister.”

He placed one finger on his lips, and held it there a good minute while he pondered. Then a grin flittered at the side of his mouth and he filled her glass before pushing it across the table. “You were never vegan.”

She hit the table, and took the shot. “Damnit! How’d you know?”

“I’ve seen the way you eat bacon. You wouldn’t last a month.”

She shrugged. “You’re probably right.”

She refilled both glasses, and slid one across to him. “Take one with me. Not because we have to, just…because.”

“Alright.”

She lifted her glass to her lips, and met his eyes. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Elli.”

Wings started flapping in his stomach, and he lifted his glass to his lips. She was beautiful tonight. Her cheeks rosy, her hair down around her shoulders. “Same.”

Whiskey ran down his fingers as he took the shot, but he didn’t care. He wiped them on his jeans, and grabbed the bottle again. “I think I’m getting the hang of this stuff. It’s not nearly as bad as it was fifteen minutes ago.

She giggled. “It’s an acquired taste.”

“Yeah?”

She lifted one shoulder. “It has a nostalgic quality to it. Kind of reminds me of all the men I grew up with. My father, uncles, grandfather, my brothers…”

“What about the woman? What did they drink?”

She smiled. “It was just my mom and aunts really. They mostly drank wine.”

“No girl cousins?”

She shook her head. “Not my age.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

She smiled. “My brothers say I have enough estrogen for the whole family.”

“Why? Were you a trouble maker?”

“No…” She shook her head, then played with the cap of the bottle with her fingers. Screwing it tight, then loosening it again. “Well not compared to my friends. I was actually always the good girl. My brothers were just over protective and dramatic.” She pushed from the floor, slightly wobbly, and caught herself with the chair. “Wow. I’m really feeling it now, how about you?”

A grin spread across his face. “Same.”

He placed the pillow under his head and peered over his shoulder. “Whose turn is it? I forgot.”

She stepped over him on her way to the bathroom. “Yours.”

He thought about his next round of lies, but got tired of waiting, and shouted them to her across the hall. “Bananas make my mouth itch.” He hollered. “But I eat them for the potassium. My first rated R film was Weird Science, and I really hope this plan works.”

The door opened then, and Fe appeared at the opening to the bathroom. Her hair loose around her shoulders, and her eyes bright.

She came toward him then, wringing her hands. “What is it about her?” she asked him, stopping at the table to refill another shot before sitting on the floor.

He rolled to his side, downing the shot before answering. “What do you mean?”

“Mary. I assume that’s why you want the plan to work?”

He ranked his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “Cause she’s fucking amazing.” He rolled onto his back, smirking to himself for his use of the F word.

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