Page 20 of Falling for Nicole
“We need to celebrate. Nicole, get us a bottle of tequila will you?” BJ shouts over at a totally unnecessary volume, seeing as I’m only a few feet away.
“Sure.”
“Get one for yourself while you’re there. I think it’s timefunNicole made an appearance. Dec’s had you working too hard.”
“She’s working,” Dec snaps harshly.
“Aw man, you know you want to see her drunk again. You might even get her back to your bedroom this time without her passing out,” I just about hear BJ say from the bar.
I can’t make out Dec’s response because he drops his voice, but he doesn’t sound amused.
“Here you go,” I say in my sweetest voice. “One bottle and three glasses.”
“You sure you won’t join us? You’ve worked so hard.”
“She’s. Working. Dickhead,” Declan spits, and I use the opportunity to slip away. I have no intention of getting between Dec and his friends.
Once everyone else has left, I take tonight’s takings out to the office to get them counted and locked away. I’m almost finished when laughter from out in the bar distracts me. It’s a harsh reminder of all the things I’ve been without over the past few years, and hanging out having a laugh with friends is one of them. It’s amazing being back with Lilly, but it makes me think I should make more of an effort to widen my circle a little.
Vowing to ask Emily or Freya to coffee one day, I grab my stuff and head back to the bar.
The three guys have an empty bottle in the middle of them, and they’ve started on another.
“I’m not footing the bill for this,” Dec slurs as he knocks another shot back.
“Get your phones out then, lads.”
“First search word is…TITS!” BJ shouts.
I watch as all three of them type it into their phones. Liam holds his out for the others to see, then takes a shot before Dec announces something that ends in, “with my tits.” His slurring’s so bad I hardly make that out.
I’ve no clue what the fuck they’re doing, and after hearing similar conversations involving the wordspussyandup the arse, I decide it’s time for me to leave them to it.
“I’m off,” I say as I walk past them.
BJ and Liam are too engrossed in their phones to acknowledge me, but Dec’s eyes slowly make their way over. His gaze starts at my ankles and I feel it burn as he makes his way up my body. When his eyes meet mine, they’re dark and hungry. Seeing as I’ve yet to figure out his moods, I’ve no idea what could come out of his mouth next.
“You missed one.” He nods over towards the stage and I spot a glass tucked around the corner. “I hired you because you were meant to know what you’re doing.”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to contain a response that could well get me sacked on our opening night. After a couple of seconds, I spin on my heels and go to collect it.
“Is that better for you,boss?” I seethe when I walk back over.
“It’ll do. I trust you’ll be here first thing in the morning.”
“Yes. Although I doubt you will.” I glance at the now almost empty second bottle of tequila, and march out of the shack and away from whatever his comeback may have been.
Lilly’s curled up on the sofa under a blanket when I get back. She came down to the shack earlier, but the twins are teething so she had to get back to help Lucas out.
“How’d it go?”
“Amazing. I don’t know what Dec was worried about. The place was packed all night and everyone loved it.”
“I’ve been telling him that for months. I knew he’d pull it off.”
“He might not remember it in the morning, mind you.” I go on to explain the state I left him in, and Lilly just rolls her eyes at her brother’s antics.
“Guess what.” The cheeky smile that spreads across Lilly’s face makes me wonder if I want to know.
