Page 46 of Queen of Ruin

“We had to pick Alistair up at the park police station,” I explain.

“I’m still not getting why this is news.” She eyes Alistair as if she’s already got him pegged.

“He was wearing a dress and heels,” I pause, trying to contain my laughter. “They were Louboutins,” I clarify.

“A man with good taste.” Cleo winks at him.

“See?” Alistair waves his hand to Cleo. “She gets it.”

“I’m guessing you’re not from here, but there’s been a rise in public indecency arrests in the parks,” Burke interjects, shoving a forkful of turkey in his mouth as we all stare at him. “Did I not mention that I’m a police officer?”

“Your dress was a little indecent. I’m pretty sure I saw some nip,” Darren laughs.

Alistair threatens to fling a forkful of gravy laden green beans at him and I can’t contain my laughter.

“Just tell the story!” Cleo demands.

Alistair sets his fork down and flattens out his shirt as if to prepare himself to regale his tales of woe.

“This stays between us,” he insists dramatically while looking around the table.

“And the D.C. park police,” Darren interjects, to which Alistair rolls his eyes.

“I might have taken a little…” he stops mid-sentence and looks questioningly at Burke who tilts his head.

“I’m off duty,” Burke explains, “and frankly, I don’t care,” he adds, shoveling pumpkin pie into his mouth.

“I might have taken a little ecstasy,” he demonstrates the size by using his pointer finger and thumb, and then turns to Darren. “You know how X makes me amorous.”

Cleo raises her eyebrows.

“No, I do not,” Darren protests, appalled.

“Anyway, I obviously couldn’t drive myself home, so my work friends…”

“I thought we had this conversation about friends,” Darren interrupts.

“Can I just finish?” Alistair begs, annoyed.

Darren motions for him to continue.

“They put me in a rideshare, and I guess the woman did not take kindly to my compliments.” He shrugs. “To make a long story short…”

“Too late,” Burke pipes up and Alistair glares at him.

“She pulls over at the park and tells me to get out. Can you imagine the nerve?”

“She could sue you for sexual harassment,” Darren points out.

“Well, look who’s not a lawyer but thinks he knows everything.” Alistair shakes his head.

“I graduated from law school.” Darren gestures. “But besides that, I do know everything,” he adds smugly.

“These boys are quite entertaining,” Cleo says, only to me, and I laugh.

“I had to take a piss and the bathrooms were closed,” Alistair continues looking pointedly at Darren with obvious annoyance.

“And?” I ask, because at this point now I’m committed to the story. I have to know how it ends.

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