Page 11 of Enraged

Holding up the brown paper bag in my right hand, I shook my head. “Brought my own, girlie pop.”

I made my way across the room and sat not one, but two bottles of Jack Daniels on the bar top.

“Damn, you were prepared. It didn’t even occur to me to stop and get more. I just knew we had left some up here last time we were here, and I was banking on it,” she explained.

“Yeah, well, the last few hours have definitely taught me to not expect a goddamn thing just because I know it’s supposed to be. Want a shot?”

Jolene

I watched Dakota pour himself a shot into one of the glasses they kept in the cabinet.

Look at him being all professional with it while I’m swilling from the bottle like a neanderthal.

“Want a shot?”

I held up my bottle before tipping it to my lips.

The burn was back, evidence that it had been too long since my last gulp.

“We need to eat something, Lena.”

I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

“Yeah, no. This works.” Another gulp.

Shrugging, he turned up his own bottle.

Thank you for abandoning the shotglass, Mr. Fancy Pants.

I threw myself down on the sofa, nearly sliding off as the satin struggled to grip onto the leather.

“Please don’t break your damn neck. Why are you still wearing that?”

Because I didn’t have the fucks to change, bro.

“I hadn’t been here but a few minutes when you busted up in here like the fuckin’ feds. Whiskey was more important than wardrobe,” I pointed out.

“You look like a fuckin’ cupcake,” he muttered before turning his bottle up again.

First of all, rude. Second of all, I paid a lot of money to look like a fuckin’ cupcake and I’ll fight you with one titty out and the law on the way.

“I like my dress, thank you very fuckin’ much. I don’t give a fuck if you don’t.”

He looked shocked.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it. You look beautiful.”

My heart lurched and I felt the tears threaten.

“Thanks, Dak.”

“Anytime, Loo. Do me a favor?”

A favor? Now?

“What?” I snapped.

“Can you cool your jets a little? Same team, girl, same team.”