Page 24 of The Curse of Eternity
“You made it!” Everly called over the music.
Before I could speak, Ethan shouted, “What are we drinking?”
“Nothing for me.” I shook my head, almost regretting it when Olivia’s shoulders relaxed.Did she always have to act like such a babysitter?“But I promised to buy Caleb a drink.”
“What’ll it be?” asked the bartender, a man with a bright blue mohawk and equally light eyes. He glanced over each of us, his gaze resting on the gorgeous blonde woman beside Everly for a moment longer.
“Bourbon, whatever’s cheapest.” Caleb winked my way, and I smirked.
“I’ll have whatever she’s drinking.” Ethan pointed at the bottle in Everly’s hand.
“A vodka cruiser,” the bartender said, already bustling around.
“I don’t—” Olivia started, steamrolled by Ethan.
“Pipsqueak here will have a Bloody Mary.” He turned his full brotherly sass on Olivia, who seemed about to argue, but then the drinks were set on the teak bartop, and the bartender moved elsewhere for another drunken order.
“But we didn’t pay?” I voiced, my brow furrowed, and Everly’s date finally spoke.
“It’s on the house for any friends of Eve’s.” Brown eyes—darker than I would have expected for someone with such light blonde hair—met mine in answer. She was a couple of inches taller than me, towering over Everly who appeared dressed to impress in a very tight, sparkly green number. Meanwhile, the sleek black skirt and ruffled blouse showcasing the woman’s figure seemed more fitting for a high-stakes business meeting than a nightclub.
“Guys, this is Courtney,” Everly said, giddily waving her hand with the introductions. “That’s Caleb, um—Tsosie, right?”
“Yep.” He raised his shot glass in salute, and Everly beamed.
“He’s a mechanic, and Maria’sotherbest friend.” She giggled, her focus swinging to my cousins. “Olivia and Ethan Harker are siblings, and of course I’ve already told you about Maria.”
“Harker?” Courtney blinked, and a curious smile froze across her delicate pale features.
“That’s our name,” I affirmed, and her gaze once again met mine.
An odd feeling swooped in my stomach that had nothing to do with Courtney’s good looks. Thankfully, her attention immediately returned to Everly when my best friend exclaimed, “And here’s Addison! Addy, are you having a drink? Courtney said she’s buying!”
Addison shrugged her thin shoulders, moving between partiers like a fish through water until she reached us. Her slender forearms rested on the bartop, eyeing up Courtney with suspicion until she caught me looking. “Sure.”
Olivia had only taken a small sip of her drink when she spluttered, sending tomato juice flying all over my top. “What are you doing?” she shrieked at Ethan, who’d taken a hearty swig of his drink. “You’re not even twenty!”
“Bartender didn’t know that.” He winked, leaving Olivia gaping at him. Ignoring her aghast expression, he backed up into the crowd. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m here to actually havefun.” Under the flashing lights, the music heralded by Addison’s stand-in, Ethan disappeared from view. Olivia set her drink down, about to storm after him, but I caught her arm.
“He’s an adult, Liv,” I reminded, but Olivia’s eyes narrowed.
“He could gethurt,” she argued.
“He’s not stupid!” I shouted over the music. “Besides, Caleb isn’t drinking legally, either—”
“That’s different.” Olivia’s mouth twisted, her face red and sweaty even before Caleb intervened.
“It’ll be okay, Liv. Who hasn’t snuck into a club before and got someone to buy them a drink or two?” His genial, easygoing grin was hard to argue with. While Olivia visibly deflated, I had to chew on the inside of my cheek to keep from continuing the issue unnecessarily. Of course, she’d have listened to anyone but me.
“Oh, I love this song!” Everly chimed, her bottle only half-emptied when she took Courtney’s hand to lead her onto the dance floor. “Come on, guys!”
“Oh, man,” Caleb murmured before downing the rest of his shot. His hand extended to me, but I managed a smile and shook my head.
“I’ll catch the next one,” I said, giving Olivia a little shove his way. Suave and unsubtle, Caleb caught Olivia and spun her around. They moved into the crowd, Olivia’s expression mixed between elation and terror, and I returned to the bar. Addison accepted a drink from the bartender, raising the glass of pink liquid in thanks.
“So,” I called out over the noise, and Addison hesitantly turned my way.Shit, I sucked at small talk.“Uh, the music sounded great before, when you were up there.” I pointed toward the raised stage, and Addison lifted a brow.
“Thanks.” Gaze averted, Addison downed her drink in one swallow. A flush blotched her cheeks pink, peeking through the layer of goth-white foundation. “Well, I’d better get back to it.”
