“Didn’t we drink the same amount?” I looked at her. “Did I drink you under the table?”
“It would appear that way, yes,” Joni said with amusement.
I gestured with my chin to the counter. “What can I do?”
“Take that plate of hotdogs outside and hand them to Gray. He’s at the grill.”
“Put me to work,” Joni commanded.
“Condiments need to go on the tables,” Darcy dictated.
“Got it.” Joni went to the fridge and rooted around the shelves, pulling out bottles of mustard and ketchup. Her butt was on display in her amazing jeans and I caught Zip staring at it.
“Zip, find me a prospect and send him in,” Darcy said. “I need another case of beer brought up from the basement.”
Zip grinned. “These parties would be a shit show without you here.”
Darcy rolled her eyes. “They turn into a shit show after a few bottles of bourbon.”
He kissed her cheek on his way toward the hallway. He gestured for me to follow and when we got to the back door, he opened it, allowing me to go out first.
Before I could continue to the grill, Zip put his hand on my arm and stopped me.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I frowned in confusion and lifted the plate of hotdogs. “I thought it was obvious.”
“Not that. The shit you pulled with me and Joni?”
“You and Joni?” I asked, feigning innocence. “There is no you and Joni.”
Zip’s jaw clenched and his blue eyes went frosty. “Stay out of it.”
“Stay out of what?”
“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered. He reached into his pocket to retrieve my phone and keys before stalking away to join a few Blue Angels sitting around in folding chairs, coolers of beer nearby.
Smiling to myself, I approached the guy at the grill who was at least ten years older than Darcy. His salt-and-pepper hair was pulled back into a ponytail, his muscled arms heavily inked. He shut the lid of the gas barbecue grill and glanced at me.
“Those for me, darlin’?” he asked, gesturing to the plate of hotdogs.
“I think they are.” I handed the plate over and said, “I’m Mia.”
He grinned, white teeth appearing through a salt-and-pepper beard. “I know who you are.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Welcome. Grab a beer and get to know the boys.”
“I’ll do that,” I murmured.
I had plans to introduce myself to everyone, but Joni was a step ahead of me and took it upon herself to lead me around after she set out the condiments. I sipped on a beer while conversing with Boxer—the blond flirt I’d met the first day. He was charming and carefree, but I didn’t think for a second he couldn’t be strong and forceful. He was a Blue Angel.
Kids ran around, yelling and laughing. Adults conversed near the salsa and chips while Gray manned the grill. When Boxer left me alone to grab another beer, I escaped. Everyone was nice, but curious, so the questions had been steady for the better part of an hour.
Colt still hadn’t shown up yet.
I wandered away from people, ambling toward a group of kids that were hanging out under a tree. I didn’t know who belonged to whom, but there were eight of them, with more girls than boys, age range varied.