Page 40 of Mr. Charming

Decker comes back holding a tray of shots and sets them down in front of us. He sees there’s no chair by Tedi, so he takes the open one between Conor and me.

“Is she always so pushy with the shots? She just made me do two at the bar. Said it was some ritual because I’m new?” Decker looks between the two of us.

Conor laughs. “You never know with Rubes.” He smacks Decker on the back. “She warms up eventually.”

“Well, she wants us all to take a shot.” Decker picks up the shots and passes them around. “She said this is for you, Rowan.” He puts one that was set away from the rest on the tray in front of Rowan.

“Why are we doing shots?” Henry asks. “I have a kid who’s going to wake my ass up at six tomorrow morning.”

“Just do the shot,” I say, lifting my shot glass.

All the girls pick up theirs.

“Welcome to Peeper’s, Tedi and Decker,” I say.

We all clink and down the shots. I probably love the burn a little too much. To be honest, I would love to numb my mind tonight, so when Ruby comes back through with another tray of shots, I don’t groan and complain like the others.

“Fuck, I feel like I’m at my twenty-first birthday,” Decker says, picking up his beer.

“You should feel honored. She didn’t do this to me when I joined the team.” Conor shrugs.

Tedi is making all the girls laugh with her stories, as she always does.

Wanting to crawl out of my skin, I head to the bathroom. Peeper’s isn’t busy, since it’s a weekday night, so there’s no line and no women waiting to get a glimpse of us when we leave the back room.

Ruby flags me down at a table she’s cleaning. “I have another round of shots for you guys.”

I stop and cross my arms, staring at her. “What are you doing, Ruby?”

She shrugs. “Did you know she had a boyfriend?”

I shake my head.

She sets the glasses back on the table. “You’ve been dodging me. Haven’t seen you since she showed up here.” Sliding a chair out to sit down, she eyes the chair across from her.

“Sorry, Ruby, you haven’t given me enough alcohol to sit here and pour my heart out again.”

“Okay. Don’t forget to get the tray on your way back in then.” She stands, picks up the glasses, and walks away.

I go to the bathroom, and on my way back to the room, I grab the tray of shots off the bar.

Henry sighs when he sees the tray in my hands. “Fuck this. We’re out.”

Jade joins him, grabbing her purse. “We’re leaving, but let’s plan the shopping trip maybe Friday night. I’ll get a babysitter.” She hugs Tedi. “You don’t mind, Decker, do you? Us stealing your girl on a Friday night?”

“You can have her Saturday too.” Decker’s eyes are a little glazed over, and I’m pretty sure he’s on his way to being drunk.

“Stop joking, Decker,” Tedi practically growls, and Conor eyes me. “Friday sounds great.”

“We’re out too,” Rowan stands.

“Don’t let him bully Boardwalk away from you,” Conor says, and I laugh. Decker looks confused.

“Snatch up the railroads and utilities,” I say, and Conor laughs harder.

“Fuck you both.” Rowan flips us off.

Kyleigh puts on her jacket before hugging Eloise and Tedi goodbye.

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