“Round of shots?” Gavin asks, and I relax my shoulders. “For everyone,” he confirms.
“Vodka,” I say. Gonna need it if he’s determined to bother me all night.
Kenzie pours the liquor, and soon we’re three shots in. Diesel and Rowan are in their own little world as Grayson taunts Kenzie at the other end of the bar. Elle is playing pool with some guy, leaving me alone with Gavin.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“I’ve noticed.” I groan, taking a sip of my drink. At this point, I can’t taste the Jack or the Diet Coke.
“C’mon, I’m not that bad. You should give me a chance like you did four months ago.”
I nearly choke and hope he doesn’t notice, but by the sly grin on his face, I know he does.
“You’re delusional.”
“You keep sayin’ that, but I’m not buying it, Maize Bishop.”
I roll my eyes, not giving in to this little game. Maybe if I keep drinking, I’ll be able to tune him out.
“Hey, we’re all going to Wyatt’s for the ball drop,” Rowan tells me. “Wanna come?”
“Y’all leavin’ now?”
“Yeah, we’re gonna drink and eat snacks there,” she confirms.
I look at Kenzie, then back at Rowan. “No, I’m gonna stay with my sister.” Though she’s a grown-ass woman and can take care of herself, I don’t want to leave her here without company on New Year's Eve.
“Okay, babe. Text me if you change your mind.” She kisses my cheek, and I watch as all the guys and my cousins walk out the door.
“You aren’t going with your friends?” I ask Gavin, shocked he didn’t even consider it.
“You’re all the company I need.” He smirks before taking a drink and looking at me over the neck of his beer. It shouldn’t be sexy, but as I watch the way his throat tightens, I realize I must be drunker than I thought.
“I’m not here to entertain you, so go to the party.” I wave my fingers toward the door. I can’t be trusted alone with him.
“Who said I expected you to? You’re quite presumptuous.” He turns his body toward mine so our knees touch.
“I’m presumptuous?” I balk. “I beg to differ considering I keep telling you to go away and you never do.”
“I’m just sittin’ here,” he says calmly, motioning for Kenzie with his empty beer bottle. “You’re the one who keeps lookin’ at me like I’m your next meal.”
I shake my head. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“That’s not what you said the first night we met.”
“Okay, now I know you’ve lost your damn mind.”
“What can I get you lovebirds?” Kenzie asks casually, and if looks could kill, she’d be dead.
“Maize and I are gonna shoot some Fireball.”
“No, we are not,” I interject.
“It’s no fun playing drinking games by myself,” Gavin says, giving me a sly grin. I want to slap it off his sexy face. “You only have to drink if you lose anyway, so what do ya say?”
Kenzie waggles her brows when I glance at her. I sigh with a shrug, giving in. “Fine.”
She lines up four glasses, then fills them full. “Have fun, you two.” Flashing a wink, she moves to the other side to help more customers.
“Alright, Cowboy. What’s this game?”
“Ever heard of two truths and a lie?” he asks.
“Unfortunately, yes. You really wanna play this game with me, though? I’m pretty good at reading people,” I say matter-of-factly, but it’s the booze talking.
“So you keep sayin’. And now I’m even more certain I do.” He chuckles, scooting my shot closer. “If you don’t guess the lie, you drink.”
“And if I do, you drink.”
“Let’s play. Ladies first.” He gestures toward me, and it takes me a minute to think.
“Okay. When I was six years old, I fell off a four-wheeler and sprained my ankle. I’m left-handed. And…” I tap my lips, thinking of the final one. “I’ve never had a one-night stand.”
The corner of his lips tilts up, and I wonder if he’s going to guess right or not.
“Jesus, you’re playin’ dirty. Alright, well, then I’d have to say your lie is the last one.” The corner of his lip tilts up.
“Wrong. I was eight, and it was a horse.” I glance down at his shot then back at him.
Gavin shakes his head “Oh, I see you’re really doin’ me dirty. Two can play that game, darlin’.” Without arguing, he downs the shot.
The alcohol is definitely buzzing through my body because I can’t take my eyes off him. His buff biceps, the way his veins pop in his arms, and how his eyes focus on me as if I’m the only one in the bar are hypnotizing.
“Your turn.”
“Okay, get ready to lose.” He flashes an arrogant smirk. “I rode my first bull when I was nine. I won my first championship when I was nineteen. I’ve never had a one-night stand, then left the morning after without as much as a goodbye.”