Page 116 of All Twerk, No Play

“Holyshit,”Alexandersaidas I weaved through the crowd, wiping off my goofy grin. “Mal texted me that you were singing, but I thought she was fucking around. But there you were … performing on a stage. Kissing him in public.” And when he smacked your butt, you … yousmiled.” I led him by the bicep, depositing him into a booth at the back of the pub—quiet enough that we could talk, but I could still keep an eye on the stage. “They told me you were different around him. But God, Victoria …”

His head shook in disbelief, slumping into the booth. “Do you know how long it’s been since I saw you smile? A real smile, not one that concealed your thoughts about how easily you could outsmart them?”

I chuckled to hide the desperation in my voice. “How long?”

He ran his hand down his face. “Law school, maybe?”

I sighed. Eight years ago. Yeah, that was about right.

He glanced at the stage, where Cruz was wildly drumming his heart out.

“I’m sorry I told you he wasn’t good enough,” Alexander said.

I scoffed, remembering his disrespect about how I’d never be satisfied with Cruz’s lack of career potential. Even if everything he said was true at the time, it still hurt.

But he wasn’t done. “And I treated you like you couldn’t make your own decisions.”

“Yeah, you did,” I said, my voice rough.

“You’d think I would know better,” Alexander chuckled softly. “When I met Grace, Dad and Mallory both told me to keep my distance because I wasn’t good enough for her.”

“That’s because you’re not. Grace is a goddamn saint for putting up with your bullshit.”

His lips tightened to hold back a laugh. “Oh, and you’re such a catch?”

“I am, actually,” I said, which broke his stern facade. I turned again to watch Cruz, appreciative of him surprising me tonight. Just like when he brought me home to meet his family, he seemed to understand what I needed but would never request.

“His birthday is next month. I want to throw him a surprise party,” I said, feeling my face soften as my mind churned with ideas. My mom used to plan five surprises for my birthday every year, and I hadn’t celebrated that way since I lost her … but I knew deep down that she would love it.

I looked around, inspecting the lounge on the second level. I could host it here at Donnelly’s. Rent out the whole upstairs, plus the roof deck. This is where we met, after all. Where he’s most comfortable, where he performs. I turned back to the stage, wondering if I could conspire with Rodriguez to book Your Local Phantom to play that night too, and felt a smile tug at my lips.

“Oh my god, I totally predicted this,” Alex said, with an arrogant smirk. “I said that I thought you would love it here, if you gave it a chance. And here you are, planning a party, smiling at your boyfriend. I don’t want to say I told you so, but—”

“Oh my god, you’re insufferable,” I muttered, dropping my head in my hands.

“I told you so, Vic,” he said, testing the waters.

I glared. “Don’t push it.”

“Cruz calls you nicknames, why can’t I?” His mouth lifted into a crooked grin.

“He earned the right using a negotiation strategy that is no longer available to you,” I said with a raised eyebrow.

His eyes bulged. “Fine, Victoria.”

“Tori,” I said, holding out a hand. “No more than half the time, never in front of clients.”

“Alright, Tori,” he shook my hand. When our server arrived with my potato skins, Alex shoved one in his mouth, reaching for a second before I smacked his hand away.

“We’re business partners, we share,” he said, dodging my hand to scoop a big chunk of sour cream. “And now that I know that you perform live—”

“No.”

“I know what I want for my wedding present.”

“No, Alex.”

He grinned at my use ofhisnickname. “Tori—”

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