Page 74 of Wild Card
“No? You haven’t even heard what I’m gonna say.”
“I got ears. You want to make trouble, go do it somewhere else. My bar isn’t gonna get shut down for Jett Michaelson.”
I snorted. “You got something against Jett?”
“He’s a loose cannon. Always ready to go off.” He shook his head. “I steer clear of his bullshit. You should too.”
That was the most Leo had ever spoken to me—other than yelling at me to get the hell out of his bar when a fight erupted. He was the stoic type.
I chuckled. “Usually, that’s what people say about me.”
“Nah. You’ve got people you care about,” Leo said, eyes flicking past my shoulder. “What’ll it be, Gray?”
My brother leaned in and swiped my shot glass. “Looks like I’m all set for now.”
Leo nodded approvingly and moved away.
“That’s my drink, fucker.”
Gray poured my beautiful tequila down his gullet, then stole my fucking beer, too, and took a big swallow.
I snatched it back from him. “Are you done robbing me?”
“Well, I don’t know. Are you done drinking yourself under the table?”
“I can hold my liquor,” I said, pushing off the stool to walk away. The room lurched, and I grabbed the bar to stay on my feet.
Gray scoffed. “Looks like the liquor is holding you. Did you even notice me and Bailey come in? We’ve been watching you drink yourself half to death for the past hour. You’re lucky Holden isn’t here.”
I laughed. “Oh no, is Daddy gonna be mad?”
Gray scrunched up his face. “Don’t ever call him Daddy again.”
I shuddered. The alcohol had clouded my judgment there. “Yeah, that was just wrong. Maybe I am a little drunk.”
I scanned the room. Bailey was working the pool tables. No surprise there.
Gray led me to a nearby table, and I dropped heavily into the chair. The booze was hitting hard now.
Not like it was a surprise. I’d come to Ball Breakers with one mission: drink until I didn’t think or feel anything. I was well on my way to success when Leo and my brother conspired against me.
Gray pushed a glass of water that must have been Bailey’s toward me. “What’s going on with you? You haven’t hit it this hard in a while.”
I defiantly took another swallow of beer, even as my body cried out for that water. “Just having fun.”
“By drinking alone? Try again.”
I flipped him the bird. “Wouldn’t have been alone all night.”
“Oh?” He braced his elbows on the table and leaned in. “Is Dalton coming by?”
I sneered. “Dalton is no concern of mine.”
“So, this is about him.”
“Nope.” I gave in and grabbed the water to slurp some down. “Stop worrying so much. You’re gonna give yourself gray hair.” I laughed. “Gray with the gray hair. That’s funny.”
He rolled his eyes. “Hilarious.”
