Page 54 of Whiskey Wednesdays

Thanks to the mild evening, we spilled out into Titus’s backyard area while we ate and chatted. A few players socialized for a bit, then took off. But most stayed.

Six of us were immersed in a competitive game of Settlers of Catan. While we waited for Rudy to take his turn, I picked up a bottle of Crown Royal Whisky someone had brought.

“Why do Canadians spell whiskey without an ‘e’?” I asked.

Titus smirked. “The real question is why do you Americans spell it wrong?”

Jackson leaned forward. “My granddad told me whiskey originated from Scotland and Ireland. He said Canadians follow the Scotts’ tradition of whiskey-making and the Americans follow the Irish. And they each spelled it differently.”

“The Scottish method is better,” Titus muttered.

I looked at the bottle. “There’s my fun fact for the day. And I wouldn’t know which method is better because I think they both taste like paint thinner.”

A couple of guys chuckled and Jackson booed.

When Rudy was done with his turn, I picked up the dice. “I heard the Green Bay Packers played this game together as a team for years, and they became obsessed with it.”

Mikael, the player from Sweden, nodded. “Ja, I heard that too. My family used to play all the time. Especially in the winter.”

Mikael also had all the rules memorized. I knew because I’d tried to stretch a few.

Titus gazed behind me as I rolled the dice, then leaned back and smirked. Jackson glanced up and sighed. I finally turned around and saw Connor walking toward us. My heart stuttered, but I turned back around and stared at the board.

He put his hands on my shoulders, and I reluctantly gazed up at him. He looked tired, frustrated, and angry. My heart lurched painfully.

He leaned down and spoke softly in my ear. “You and I are going to finish our talk, Bella.”

My throat tightened. I still wanted to yell at him, so I went with ignoring him instead. Conversations died, and most of the players stopped talking and watched us.

His hands squeezed my shoulders again. “A piece of advice? In the future, don’t hang up on me and then ghost me when I piss you off. I’ll hunt you down, and it won’t go well when I find you.”

“I’m not worried, because there won’t be a next time.”

“You don’t know me well if you think that. We’re leaving.”

Titus leaned forward. “Did you get your shit sorted out?” he asked cryptically.

Connor nodded. “I did. It’s done.”

“What are you two talking about?” I shook my head. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. You were a mean asshole, and you called me a fucking PA intern. I think you’ve said enough.” I instantly regretted repeating Connor’s words in front of everyone.

Titus narrowed his eyes and folded his arms.

“Dude,” a player muttered under his breath.

Connor scowled at the player, then turned my chair to the side and knelt beside me. “It wasn’t meant to be rude, and I hear you’re a fucking great PA. But I had a shit day, and I didn’t like finding out you and Titus were hosting a Goddamn party together.” He glanced meaningfully around. “Now please come so I don’t beat the shit out of Titus, or someone else, just because I need to let off some steam.”

A few players grinned and someone started laughing. What was it with these guys and violence?

Titus gave Connor a nasty smile. “You think you could take me?”

Connor turned to him. “I’ve been dealing with lawyers and Elodie’s bitch of a mother, and now you trying to fuck with me. So yeah, mate. Right now, I think I could take you.”

No way. These two weren’t going to use me as an excuse to fight.

I pushed my chair back and stood. Connor stood too, and I pointed my finger at him. “I’ll go with you because we do need to talk. But you can’t be a jerk then expect me to roll over and take it. You hurt me today.”

Connor studied me carefully. Then he slowly cupped my face and kissed my forehead. I froze but didn’t push him away. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him.

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