Page 16 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

I narrowed my eyes at her. Then I checked over at Dre. He was gazing into his beer.

“I’m kidding!” She leaned closer to me. “So, do you mind?”

“Of course I don’t mind, Christa. But he’s with someone, as you can see.”

“And so were you, but that didn’t stop him from coming over.” She scoped out his table again. “That’s not even the same girl from the other night. She had dark hair. Obviously, he needs to add a honey blonde with highlights to his collection. What do you think, Dre?”

“About what?”

“Should I go for it?”

“I don’t give a fuck what you do, Christa.”

“Damn, someone needs to get laid.” She stood up and squeezed her boobs into place. “I guess that someone will have to be me.”

“Good luck.” As I said it, a funny tickle entered my stomach.

“Speaking of, I should ask if he has another one of those ‘getlucky’ necklaces.”

I was waiting for her to start talking about how that guy gave me one on Saint Patrick’s Day, but she didn’t. She didn’t even know that I went back for it that night and was currently carrying it around in my purse. Which was unusual because I told her everything.

“It’d lie right here”—she rubbed her hand up and down her cleavage—“and draw attention to my tits. I gotta play up my assets, right? Do you know I had someone ask me the other day if they were real? I feel so flattered to have a pair that look good enough to be fake.”

“Have you had anything to drink yet tonight?” I asked.

“No, why?” I opened my mouth. “Oh, speaking of drinks, I need to go up to the bar and get something dumped on me. Then maybe I’ll be lucky enough to have someone offer me some club soda.” She winked, then strutted off in her stilettos.

“What the fuck is she on tonight?” Dre asked.

I shook my head, thinking the same thing. She normally had an outgoing personality—boisterous when mixed with alcohol—but this was something else. Too many things; I didn’t even know where to start.

He dragged my chair closer and gripped my thighs. “Look, Perry. I swear I’m not starting any shit here, but what’s the deal with that guy? I know you didn’t sleep with him, but Christa’s making it seem like she needs your permission and… you know, never mind.”

“It’s fine, Dre. You can ask me whatever you want.”

He sighed. “I only want to know if there’s anything with him beyond the physical.”

I suddenly didn’t feel like fighting anymore. Dre was like me. He wasn’t jealous. He wouldn’t grill me for details about what I did with my time or who I did it with. He just wanted to know what to expect going forward. After Christa’s outspoken display, I could completely understand where he was coming from. She didn’t normally act likethis. Dre and I didn’t flaunt anything we did outside of each other and she knew that. But for whatever reason, she was drawing attention, and the only thing that made sense was that she didn’t want me hurt in the end. She’d already made it clear that she had doubts if Dre and I could pull off this relationship.

“No, nothing. He’s just someone we met on Saint Patrick’s Day.”

He stroked my hair and smiled. “Okay.” That was the end of that.

A body wedged between us. Christa. She put her arms around both of us, and when he tugged away, she brought him in until all our faces were nearly touching.

“Nope, stay here. This involves you too.” She pointed to the center of the room. “You see those two guys over there?”

“There’re guys everywhere,” I said.

“By the pool table. One’s wearing a Blackhawks hat and the other’s talking to the waitress. Now he’s picking up a bottle and—”

“Yes, I see them now. What about them?”

“I did them. Both. At the same time.”

“What?”

She waggled her eyebrows at me. “Hot, right?”

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