"It was nice meeting you all,"Chessie says, taking Mei's hand.
Emma slides off her stool."I think I'm going to call it, too."
Shegivesme aquickhug and leaves with Benji,leavingDante,Charlie, and me.
"I thought things were better between you andLiberty,"Dantesays once everyone else has gone.
Charlieglances sideways at me before answering him. I sip mybeerand pretend disinterest, though I'm dying to know more.
"It goes in waves. Some days, I think we can be friends, and then there are times liketonight."Charlieshakes his head and finishes hisbeer.
Dantenods his chin at me."CharlieandLibertyhooked up when he first started here."
"Dante,"Charliewinces.
"What? Everyone else knows. Anyway,"Dantecontinues to explain to me."They hooked up. Didn't end well. Ever since, Liberty's made it her mission to be a bitch toCharlieeverychanceshe gets."
"Hey, don't call her that,"Charliesays curtly."Ihurther feelings. I deserve whatever she dishes out. I take full responsibility."
"She needs to get over it."
"Can wedropit?"Charliedarts another glance at me, thengivesDantea peeved look."Please?"
"Okay."Danteraises his hands, palms out."This old man needs to head home. Lucia is probably wondering where the hell I am."
"Lucia your girlfriend?"I ask, leaning into the topic change.
"My cat,"Danteannounces proudly. He opens his phone and taps the screen a few times, then turns it around toshowme the prettiest Calico."The only pussy that hasn't let me down."
I choked on my last swallow ofbeer.CharlieslapsDanteupside the head."There's a lady present, moron."
Dante's face flushes bright red."Sorry,Palmer. I think I had one too manytonight."
I bite back agrin."It's okay,Dante. See youtomorrow."
"Good luck out there,"he says in parting.
The woman in red is at thebaragain, casting annoyed glances our way.Charlienods at my half-drunkbeer."Another?"
I wave him off, my confidence draining. The woman in red is hot and obviously very interested. I'm not about to cockblock my friend."No. I should get home. Make sure I'm mentally prepared fortomorrow."
Charliechecks hiswatch."It's barely past nine. Want someicecream? There's a great little shop around the corner. Or do you want something to eat other than pub food?"He gestures to the empty baskets that had held an assortment of fried appetizers we'd all picked on.
I hesitate, but Tisha's voice rings in my head. I'm still not sure I can go through with theplan, but for now it's justicecream. I nod."Sure.Icecream sounds delicious."
Five
Charlie
She showed up.PalmerYorkfuckingshowed up.
I have had a crush on this woman since I met her three years ago. I once pointed her out to my brother and he didn't understand."Kind of big boned, isn't she?"he'd said.
I punched him.
Not hard, just enough so he knew not to talk about her like that again. As far as I'm concerned, she's gorgeous. Tall, only a few inches shorter than me, with strong arms and muscled legs. How many nights have I fantasized about having those legs squeezing the life out of me while I pumped inside her? Too many to count.
And now here she is, and we're gettingicecream.
