Page 54 of Playing Dirty

“Quit now, Daniels. No one can beat me at drinking games.”

“It’s true,” Eva says, leaning forward slightly. “She beats all the guys at beer chugging.”

I frown at the two of them, knowing I’ll never live it down if she does best for me. “Challenge accepted.” I signal for the waitress, noticing and ignoring the looks Oak gives me. “Two large beers, please.”

She nods in response, clearly rushed off her feet and heads to the bar to get the drinks.

“How are you even a professor when you act like a fucking child?” Gav asks.

He’s always such an asshole. “How are you a professor when you’re such a sadistic son of a bitch?”

Oak clears his throat. “I never thought I’d be sitting in a bar with my two adult friends and find that the more mature guests are students. Stop being idiots.”

I ignore the glare that Gav gives me as he drinks his whiskey. He’s quickly distracted by Camilla and if I didn’t know my friend better, I’d say he was into her, but Gav never goes for students.

“Seriously, when are you going to grow up though, Arch?” Oak asks.

“Are you suggesting I’m immature?”

Oak tilts his head. “Don’t even pretend you aren’t. You’re about to participate in a drinking game with an eighteen-year-old.”

“And your point is?”

He sighs in defeat and turns his attention to his drink. Meanwhile, Adrianna turns to me. “What beer did you order? I hope it was Budweiser.”

I shake my head. “I just ordered beer and was pretty sure they only serve Heineken here.”

“Heineken is shit.”

I tilt my head. “Does it really matter when you are chugging it? I prefer it to Budweiser, to be honest.”

“Principal Byrne, what do you think? Heineken or Budweiser,” Adrianna asks.

Oak wrinkles his nose. “Neither.”

Adrianna sighs, glancing at Eva, who shakes her head. “Don’t ask me.”

“What do you think, Camilla?”

Camilla looks like someone shot her. “About what?”

“What beer is better, Budweiser or Heineken?”

“You know I don’t drink beer.”

At that moment, the waitress returns with the two large Heineken. “Thanks,” I say, passing one to Adrianna, who takes it begrudgingly.

“Rules are simple. First to finish the beer wins,” Oak says.

“Yeah, that’s generally how this works,” I say, sarcastically, which results in a scolding look from my boss.

“Shall I count you in?” Eva asks.

I glance at Adrianna. “Are you ready?”

“Always.”

I nod and tighten my grasp on my beer. “Yeah, count us in.”

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