Page 61 of Hard Hitter

"Actually, I've been drinking since noon," Raelyn replied. "Any chance you've got some Tylenol and water back there?"

Emerson grinned his charming grin, all straight white teeth with a twinkle in his stormy blue eyes. His sandy blonde hair was short, as if he’d recently gotten a haircut, but his beard was the same perfectly trimmed length as always. "Actually, we stocked up on that for just this occasion." He ducked into the bar and came back moments later with a water bottle and a travel packet of Tylenol.

"Perfect, thanks." Raelyn grabbed the items off the bar ledge and ripped open the packet.

"No tip?" Emerson asked, a playful tone to his voice.

She wasn't drunk enough to not be annoyed by him trying to flirt. "Hmm...don't screw girls who aren't your fiancé on your office desk?"

"All right, I had that coming," Emerson said in an uncharacteristically humble manner. Then he attempted a charming flirt again, "Would it help if I said I'm sorry? Again?"

"Be sorry or don't," Raelyn sighed. "It's not going to change a thing now."

"Misssster Yates!" Amira slurred, bumping into Raelyn and slapping her hand down on the bar ledge. "Are you bothering my best friend?"

"Miss Jones," Emerson dipped his head. "I was just getting her what she'd asked for, with the side of an apology."

"Little late for that," Amira scoffed, then giggled drunkenly. "But it's fine because she's got a new man now."

"She does?" Emerson asked, clearly taken off guard. "That's news to me. Must be a new thing?"

"About a month," Raelyn shrugged, turning to scan what she could see of the road in hope of spotting a charcoal Bronco.

"Who's the lucky guy?" Emerson asked. He then set a shot glass on the bar, poured it full of Jameson and tossed it back. Emerson and whiskey were usually a bad combination. It completely negated his filter and he turned into a giant, testosterone-fueled mega-douche.

“He’ll be here later,” said Raelyn, watching as he poured himself another shot. “Don’t you think you should take it easy on the Jameson?”

“Why?” Emerson asked. “You used to like when we’d drink like this. We’d end up fighting and then fuck like the world was ending.”

Raelyn rolled her eyes, though she did indeed remember those nights. There was so much fire in their arguments, she often felt like Emerson would pick fights with her just for the steamy make up sex.

“Just try not to make an ass of yourself,” Raelyn finally said. She looped her arm through Amira’s and steered them toward the fire where the other girls were seated.

The fire pit was dug into the ground and there was a perfectly landscaped stone patio surrounding the now roaring bonfire. There werefour tall posts on each corner of the patio with globe lights strung from one to the other, outlining the space. Raelyn and Amira sat on one of the live-edge wood benches that surrounded the fire. Amira put her arm around her best friend and rested her head on her shoulder.

"This was so much fun," Amira sighed, words still slurred, but dreamy.

"I needed a night like this," Raelyn replied, "and I'm so glad you had a good time." She put her own arms around her friend and gave her a squeezing hug. Unable to conceal what was on her mind, she asked, "So, Brody didn't tell him about Quinn, huh?"

"Apparently not," said Amira. "I know he told James and Ethan because they'rehugebaseball fans and they almost wet their pants when they heard a major league all-star was coming to our house."

Raelyn smiled. "I wonder how Quinn will react to that sort of attention. He always acts so shy and humble when people recognize him in public. Nothing like how he's portrayed in magazines and on TV."

Amira lifted her head up and looked perplexed, "That's true. I wonder if it's an act… I totally thought he'd be all, like, cocky and full of himself. But every time we've gone out he just, like, smiles and waves all nice."

"In high school, he was cocky on the field. Sometimes around girls, too. Maybe that's why," Raelyn pondered. "He's not trying to impress anyone because he knows he can be himself with me."

"Aww, that's so cute. That's why I can't wait for you guys to get married," Amira cooed.

"Oh my God, Amira," Raelyn chortled. "We've been together for a month."

"No, no, no," Amira held up and wagged her finger, "You've been together since you were seven and just now realized it. Everyone else knew it, by the sounds of it, but you finally just figured it out." Amira gasped suddenly, "Aww, Raaaaae! You guys are soul mates!" Amira nearly sounded like she was going to cry.

Raelyn grinned and shook her head, then glanced down at her phone. "Where is he anyway? I thought he'd be here by now." Sheturned and looked toward the house again, craning her neck in hopes of seeing that messy head of hair.

"Oh no," Amira said, turning to look as well. "Looks like my future hubby has hi-jacked him to show him off." Amira pointed toward the shed where, instead of the mess of hair, Quinn was sporting a backwards baseball cap. With the limited light, it was hard to tell from where they sat, but Raelyn thought it looked like his official LA hat. His casual t-shirt stretched over his broad chest and biceps, and Raelyn couldn't help the mischievous grin that tugged at her lips.

Oh, the things I am going to do to you later, Quinn Casey.

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