Page 21 of Stepping Up to the Plate

“Not happening.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun. At least get drunk with me. We can make a game of it. This party is going to be bananas with Kent at the helm. Let’s make the most of it.”

“Alright, fine. I will get drunk with you, but I am coming home alone.”

“Perfect, Kevin McCallister. Let’s get ready.”

“It’s not even 2 p.m.”

“Exactly! We have tons of pampering to do in order to prepare ourselves and our livers for this epic party.”

ChapterTwelve

• LOLA •

Once again, I am questioning why I listened to Tiffany. After getting ready, we decided to make bingo cards for the night that require a shot every time you check one off. Someone got bingo two hours ago but we are still playing for some reason.

And because Bach Party Bingo wasn’t enough for Tiffany, she decided to add an extra layer to our game. Every time Robby and Carina lock eyes across the room we take a sip of our drink. Every time they kiss, we have to drink the entire exchange. I should have remembered that Carina is a handsy drunk when Tiff proposed the rules. But still annoyed about the Phil situation, I wanted to drown my memories.

“God, he is insanely hot,” Haley, Carina’s former coworker, notes as she glances over at the baseball players chatting across the room.

“He’s also insanely nice. I came into the building at the same time as him and he held every door. Who does that anymore?” the redhead beside her says.

“Carina told me that when his elderly, upstairs neighbor was in the hospital, he fed her cat. He also paid for one of the usher’s family to go to Disney World after his daughter finished chemo. Hashtag swoon.”

“It should be illegal to be that hot and kind. Usually, the hot ones are the biggest jerks.”

“I’m sure there is something wrong with him. No one is that perfect.”

Realizing they’re talking about Miller, I scoff. “He’s far from perfect. Friend-shaped doesn’t meanfriendly.”

“What?” Haley asks. Shit. I didn't mean to eavesdrop or enter into their conversation. Drunk Lola is louder than she thinks she is.

“It’s a thing I heard a park ranger say once. Just because bears are friend-shaped doesn’t mean they are friendly. You try to hug them and they’ll rip your face off and make you cry. Same with Miller, he seems nice but get too close and he’ll eat your face,” I supply.

“I’d let him eat any part of me he wanted,” the redhead responds. “I’d let him do almost anything to me if it meant I got to spend a night in his bed.”

When I peek over at the man in question, I see him frowning at me from across the room. I give him my best glare before walking away to find Tiffany.

“How are you doing, my little Bunny?” She singsongs.

“The drinks aren’t working,” I grouse.

“Disagree with you there. They are working quite well on you. You are pretty wasted.”

“Don’t blame me. Blame him,” I complain a little too loudly pointing at Robby.

“Hey, what did I do?” he asks.

“You keep kissing and I keep drinking!” I exclaim. Everyone gives us confused expressions which makes Tiffany and I burst out laughing.

“I don’t even want to know,” Carina mutters.

Understanding dawns on Robby and he gives us a wink as he says, “Bottom’s up, ladies,” before pulling her in for a long kiss. It lasts so long that I drain my drink.

“Uh oh,” I say with a glimpse into my empty cup, surprised, as if I wasn’t the one who finished it.

While at the bar trying to make myself a refill, I sense a warm presence at my back. I don’t even need to turn around to know who it is. Miller has a magnetism that makes me acutely aware of him.

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