Page 130 of Pucking Obsessed

Then I remember, and it takes away my breath.

The same realization appears to have hit D’Angelo, and his words have been stolen.

He nods.

“Always nice, when your medical advice is valued,” Michael says, dryly. He breaks the tension of the moment by pushing a cocktail toward me, which is blood-red and bubbling. Sliced cherries rim the salted glass. It’s filled with crushed ice and a wedge of orange. “Tom created this unique cocktail as your birthday present. It’s called the Bloody Robyn Hood.”

I glance over at the tiny, red haired bar man.

When he smiles and waves, I raise the cocktail and pretend to take a sip.

Hell, that’s disgusting.

Now I know what blood tastes like flavored with rat poison.

I gag.

“Problem, love?” Shay pushes his hair back from his eyes. “Does Robyn Hood taste bloody bad?”

“Shay,” D’Angelo says in a warning tone.

Shay laughs, brightly.

We both know that his next line was going to be about how sweet he knows I do taste.

“What the hell is in this potion?” I hurriedly put down the glass and turn to Neve.

“Fuck knows. Tom had fun trying something new.” Neve simply pushes a beer bottle over to me.

Relieved, I pick it up. “This is why you’re my bestie.”

Neve and I clink our bottles.

Cody snatches up a beer and raises it in a toast.

Michael pushes a beer toward Shay and then hands D’Angelo a whiskey, before lifting his own drink of whiskey.

He already knows my men well.

“To the best sister in the world!” Cody declares.

I smile.

We all clink our drinks.

“To getting pissed,” Neve adds.

“Amen,” I raise my beer higher.

We clink our glasses again and drink.

I need this. The pressure has been intense this week.

I’m going to get stupidly drunk tonight. I am the birthday girl after all.

My name is on the banner.

That’s the rule, right?

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