Page 112 of Of Flesh & Bone

"My turn," Cal says rubbing his hands together.He has a fiendish grin on his face, and I know he thinks he has the perfect drink in mind."Bartender, please get the lady a Moscow Mule."

Idiot.That definitely isn't it.

Ace leans over the bar so the bartender can hear her above the noise."What's your name?"

"It's Viv."

"It's nice to meet you," Ace calls back to her."Viv, this is Cal Ashford," she gestures to each of us as we're introduced."Eve Mason, and my brother Adam Davenport.I'm Ada."

"Nice to meet ya'll."

Cal and I nod in greeting while Eve gives a small wave and a tentative smile.She's uncomfortable, but she's masking it well.Viv hands Cal the second drink and he passes it to Eve, rubbing his hands together once again.

Eve looks more nervous than she did with the first drink.She steels herself and throws it back.We all watch as though Eve is rolling dice, and we have a personal stake in how they land.

She clears her throat and sucks in a breath like she's trying to cool down her mouth."It tastes like motor oil and dirt had a demon spawn and named it Cal Ashford."

The entire group, including Cal, erupts in laughter.It takes us several moments to regain our composure.I have Eve hugged tightly to me, and I'm still chuckling softly into her hair when Viv finally speaks up and claims her guess.

"I don't think I can take anymore."Eve pleads to the group."

"Oh c'mon, Eve.Go big or go home."Ace says to Eve from too close to Cal's side.

Eve seems to realize something, and she turns, walking away.

"What the hell are you doing?"Ace calls after her.

"Going home," Eve says over her shoulder as she continues walking away.

"Ah, for fuck's sake, Eve."

Ace is quick to chase her down and drag her back.This girl.No one makes me laugh, and that's all I seem to do around her.She has won over every single person she's met so far, and I love how close she and Ace have become.They're both so comfortable with one another.Neither of them seems to worry about offending the other.They're just themselves when they're together.It's exactly what I wanted.

"Are you ready for this one, beautiful?I think I have the ONE."Viv is using elaborate hand gestures to sell Eve on her drink guess.

She passes another drink to Cal, who hands it off to Eve.This time, she drinks quickly without hesitation.

Her eyes widen and she holds up the clear glass to inspect the contents."This looks like heaven, but it tastes like armpit and the apocalypse."Again, she has most members of the small group in tears.

"Damn it!I really thought I had you with that one."Viv exclaims to Eve.

Eve is still making a face and shaking her head like she can't get the taste out of her mouth."Are you okay?"I ask her.

"No, but I'm still hilarious, so that's something."

Still laughing, I kiss my girl.I ignore everyone around us as I deepen the kiss, tasting the mixture of different liquors on her tongue.Pulling away, I whisper into her ear, "My turn."She smiles against my cheek.

"Viv, my lady, will have a Highball.Use the McCallen I hid in the corner."

Everyone looks at each other.Some are rolling their eyes and others are grinning like they already know I've lost.Cal hands Eve the drink, and she looks at me with a small grin."Bottoms up."She says to me as she tips up the glass.I realize now that I actually care about winning this game.I want to know her instinctively.I want to be the authority on all things Eve.I love ordering her new things and watching it become her latest favorite.I need my drink to win.

Eve finally speaks up after what feels like an eternity."Five stars on Yelp."

Pride swells in my chest at this simple victory."There you have it ladies and gentlemen.I'll collect my prize now."I grab Eve, lifting her off her feet and claiming her mouth once more.I have one arm wrapped tightly around her waist and the other hand tangled in her hair, pressing her mouth to mine.I feel myself get hard and I know she does too because she presses into me and runs her hands through the hair at the back of my head.

A throat clears from somewhere nearby, and I remember that we aren't alone.Not even close.We break the kiss, and I slowly lower her back to the ground, keeping our bodies flush together.I remember the day in the hall when I kissed her in front of a group of people and she lapsed into a panic.As I look into her eyes now, all I see is heat and love.Both are for me.She doesn't even seem to notice the crowd, which is far larger than the one in the hall.I wonder if she's even aware of how much she's improved.

"Damn.Could we have done that to her if we'd won?"The bartender, who is very fucking lucky to be a girl right now, asks the group.

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