“Thank you!”
“You were in good spirits after their visit last time,” Killian says quietly, his voice a low rumble, “so what’s one party? They’re family too.”
It can’t be that easy.
“You have business to attend to, don’t you?” I ask, pursing my lips slightly when he nods, but the smile doesn’t fade from my face. It doesn’t matter; I don’t care now that my friends are here.
“It won’t take long, but I wanted to make sure you had some real company,” Killian replies, and he turns his face into my palm, pressing a kiss against the heel of my hand. Ever the gentlemen in front of my friends.
He departs with a smile, melting into the crowd and I turn back to Kimmy and Sadie. They’ve lined up shots along the bar, and Kimmy is grinning wildly at me, her eyes as sparkly as the silver jumpsuit adorning her body.
“Shots!” she yells and laughter bubbles up. I glance around briefly, scanning the crowd to see if I can catch any sight of my father, but I come up empty. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him since our wedding night despite him driving us here, and despite the hostility I hold in my heart towards him, I still want to clear the air. Nothing familiar catches my eye in the crowd as Sadie snatches my wrist and pulls me toward the bar. Kimmy places a shot in front of me, and I pick it up with a grin.
“To the best family night of our lives!” Kimmy yells.
“To friendship,” Sadie counters and Kimmy dramatically rolls her eyes.
“To friendship,” I agree and we tip out shots back in unison. The alcohol burns raw down my throat, and I erupt into several short, sharp coughs to try and counter the burning sensation. We slam our glasses down on the counter, and Kimmy raises a hand.
“Another round!”
“Oh God,” I groan low, but the smile doesn’t fade from my lips. My girls are the touch of normalcy Ineedwhen adrift in a sea of mafia leaders and goons. They remain oblivious to that part of my life and thus arefullof light and excitement that doesn’t reach the hearts of anyone else.
“Don’t worry,” Sadie grins as she leans against my shoulder and the soft scent of vanilla and lilac trickles over my nose. “She drank more than enough before we came here.” Sadie collapses into peals of giggles, and the sound is infectious, humor rising within my own chest.
“You too?” I ask as another round of glasses is set before us. Sadie wiggles her eyebrows at me with a grin and reaches for her drink, one arm draping around my shoulders.
“This one should be—” she begins.
“—To adonis men!” Kimmy interrupts, and she tips her head back so quickly we have no chance to counter. Sadie and I exchange a glance and I grip my glass, tipping the cold liquid into my mouth. It burns my throat even more than the first, and tears spring into my eyes as I double over and cough.
“My God,” I gasp, my voice strained as Sadie and Kimmy burst into laughter beside me.
“Honey, you are out of practice,” Sadie chuckles and her hands move over my upper back, stroking comforting circles. Another round lands in front of us and my stomach clenches.
I can’t handle many more of these!
“Cara!” Sadie’s shocked voice draws my attention from the shot glass to her, and her gaze is down at the hem of my dress.
I glance down to see my dress has ridden up, revealing a bruise on my thigh. Its color throbs darker in the soft light of the club and I drop my hand immediately to pull my dress down as an instinctual flush of shame creeps up my throat.
“Killian,” I grin at Sadie and her eyes become saucers before narrowing into a sly smirk.
“Well, he really can’t keep his hands off you, can he!” she chuckles.
“Nope,” I shake my head so hard my silver earrings bounce hard in my ears, then I lean close to her and lick my lips. “He’s so ravishing we don’t even have time tothinkof any kind of protection. I swear, he touches me, and my mind just loses all possible sane thoughts!”
“Cara!” Sadie’s mouth falls open as Kimmy’s hand drapes around her shoulders, and she lifts her glass high with her other hand.
“To great sex!” Kimmy calls out and we all dissolve into giggles once more. I down my shot, screwing up my eyes as the burn travels sharply all the way down my throat and settles, weighty in my stomach. The weight turns into a clench of my bladder, and I touch Sadie’s arm.
“Gotta pee!” I yell above the music blaring throughout the club and she nods, quickly distracted by the colorful cocktails Kimmy has ordered. I squeeze her arm and depart the bar, beginning to weave through the crowd in search of the bathroom.
Pretend to be sober; you got this.
I nod and smile at any eyes that catch mine as a light buzz settles warm in my stomach. I’m light, and each step is strong and sure, even if I have to force all my focus into the movements.
It was only three shots, my goodness.Sadie was right! I am out of practice with hard liquor.