Page 18 of Champagne Fizz

“Phalluses,” she clarifies. “Not fallacies.”

“Now look at you and your vocabulary,” I joke. “Connor has been a good influence on you after all.”

“Don’t bring me into this!” I hear Connor quip as I walk into the dining room. He’s behind the bar cleaning glasses and giving me a frown that sayswatch your step. He’s already had to fall on the Arie-grenade earlier today when I ushered them into the kitchen.

“I was trying to make a point,” Arie says.

“I’m not sure about what.”

“If you’d shut up and let me get a word in edgewise, you’d know already,” she huffs, stopping in the middle of the dining room and throwing her hands on her hips.

Arie is made for reality TV: drama, drama, drama. In fact, if a show was filming her right now, the whole hands on hips swagger would be perfect TV fodder. She’s centered herself under the elaborate blown-glass chandelier in the middle of the dining room with the blazing sun bouncing off the ocean behind her. It’s a power move that makes her look intimidating and brilliant (little Miss Wannabe Sue Blade should take notes).

Of course, that move isn’t going to work on me.

I unlock the register behind the bar. “You may have a point,” I say, not letting her off the hook. “You and I do sound like an old bickering couple. No wonder the only thing that gets me hard is business acumen, and—”

“So you do want to fuck her then?” Arie interrupts, and I almost drop the money on the floor.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Canary Pom-Pom,” Arie hisses, pointing to the exit where Kendell left earlier. “The one with the horrible style, but surprisingly good tits.”

“I hadn’t noticed if she has good tits,” I lie, pretending to be interested in the register.

“My ass,” Arie chides, calling my bluff.

“Yourass,” I toss back at her, continuing to play innocent, “I’vealsonot noticed. Cause I’m not interested in the people I work with.”

“Damn straight,” Connor chimes in, keeping a safe distance from both of us at the far end of the bar. I shake my head at him for egging her on. He knows I see Arie like a sister.

“My ass is insulted right now.” Arie pretends to be wounded, and I roll my eyes.

“I’m sure Connor will make it feel better later.”

“You know he can—”

“Not here!” I cut her off, raising a finger at her, then wagging that same finger at Conner as well. “Not at Flambé. Not allowed. You, Connor, and your Ass can do whatever you wantoffthe premises. And I don’t need to hear about it. Thank you.”

“Amen,” Conner quips, pretending to focus on the glass in his hand like it’s his life’s purpose to make it sparkle.

“Well,” Arie sasses back, ignoring her boyfriend. “I want to hear about everything.” She’s pointing at me now. “And by everything, I mean when, where, and how long you’re going to be fucking Canary Pom-Pom. I need to know your game plan before I plot how to remove her from my life.”

“Wait,” Connor look up sharply. “Are you fucking—?”

“No!” Arie and I both say in unison, making Connor raise his hands in defense.

“He’s not fucking her—yet,” Arie clarifies, her eyes narrowing in on me accusingly.

“Don’t you mean I’m not fuzzing her yet?” I tease, putting the money in the register.

“Oh my God!” Arie fumes. “Who, over the age of thirteen, has to say fuzzing instead of fucking?”

“It’s sweet,” I defend.

“That’s your cock talking,” Arie retorts, strutting toward the bar. “That’s your cock’s wanton desire to be balls deep fuzzing Miss Canary Pom-Pom.”

“Wanton?” I mock, before turning to look at Connor. “Is that another one of those big words you taught her?”

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