Page 40 of Before Now

Colton glances at Foster before he slides on the good ol’ boy accent. “Sorry, kitten. All out.”

“I’m sure you could make it up to me … someway.” She looks between the two of them, seemingly weighing her options. She moves closer once she’s decided on the pirate. I hate how my grip tightens on my cup.

My gaze flits away, only the tug of Foster has it returning a second later. He’s staring into his beer, free hand held out toward his best friend. Colton curses and fishes in his pocket, then he slaps cash into Foster’s waiting palm and sighs at the nurse.

“You picked the wrong dude, kitten. He’s not interested, and I’m petty. So as much as I need to fuck someone, it will not be you.” He smiles at her, closed-lipped, and as he said, petty. Even his accent lightened.

“Whatever.” She throws me an unnecessary mean-girl scowl before walking away.

“I hate you, Pirate,” Colton says. Then he explains to me, “We have a continuing bet to see who gets morefuck meeyes. This douche canoe only wins because…” He shrugs and waves a hand for me to fill in the rest.

“Ah, but I’m just a pirate tonight.” Foster pockets the money. “Time to admit defeat, lil bro.”

Colton shakes his head. “Not a chance. Don’t forget, I pull dick far better than you.”

Foster smirks, about to take a drink. “I don’t like dick.”

“Eye-fucking is eye-fucking for the bet. You’re the one paying me most of the time with dudes.” He starts to drink, too, but then pulls his cup away at the last second. “You know what? I’m replacing you as my best friend.” He nudges me. “You’re in, kid.”

I nod once. “Best friends for life, Vampire.”

“I’ll give her my half of the heart necklace,” Foster deadpans, unfazed by the loss.

Colton tips his chin toward a guy by the window, wearing an open black robe and a rosary that hangs down his bare chest. “Wingman me, bestie. I’m going to fuck that hot priest.”

Foster chuckles. “Not a phrase I ever expected you to say.”

Colton licks his lips to hide a smile so he can pretend to ignore the pirate. “Seriously, let’s go. I suddenly lost all interest in protecting a certain asshole.”

“So you’re going to bury your cock in one instead?” Foster asks.

Risking my new position, I laugh at that one.

“At least I share mine with the world,” Colton mumbles before finally sipping his drink. “Unlike some pirate standing left of me has lately.”

Foster’s gaze bounces to me, and I look anywhere else. I blame the heat of everyone packed together for the flush creeping into my cheeks. It has nothing to do with Foster sharing his cock while dressed as a drool-worthy pirate. Or how he’s watching me like he’s not thinking the exact same thing.

Luckily, I’m saved a second later. An arm slings around my shoulders, and an amber shot appears in my face. This time it’s not Felix, but Dev’s arm and pouty, glassy eyes above his beak.

So, kind of lucky and kind of saved.

“You drank with Cowboy,” he whines.

“Yeehaw, she did, Cock.” Felix joins us along with two angels, a devil, a cat, and a firefighter. “Now she’ll drink with you. Then me again. Then Pirate. Then Vampire. Then we’re taking this show on the road.”

I shake my head, accepting the plastic glass. “This counts as drinking with all of you, Cowboy.”

“Boo,” he jeers, and there’s a repeat from the women.

Dev lifts his other hand, salt on his skin and a lime wedge ready. “We’ll have to make this one count then.”

“I have a perfectly good hand, you know?” I eye him, and he grins.

“You’re holding a drink and your camera in it. Trust me, mine’s better anyway. Lots of practice with my fingers.”

He wiggles the wedge.

With a squint at him, I lean in and lick the salt before taking the tequila shot. I bite into the lime and then bat Dev away, grabbing it myself. He howls like a chicken-dog and hauls the cat to his side.

---