Only One Regret (Only One 5)

"You are out of your mind," I say as she takes another shot of tequila with Becca.

"You love me," she jokes. I bring my whiskey to my mouth as I take another gulp. The girls are mingling with the other girls as they dance together. The lights go lower and lower as the time goes on. The guys are all sitting at the table while we watch the girls.

"I have to say this is pretty calm," Nico says from beside me; he is never two steps away from Becca. "And I’m actually full from all the food."

"Me, too," I agree, thinking that there was food here all night long. Erika comes to me and grabs my hand, pulling me up. "Where are we going?"

"It’s customary for the best man," she laughs, "or woman to do a shot with the ex-groom."

"Not more shots," I groan out as we get to the bar and I place my fourth glass of whiskey down.

"One more." She leans into me, holding up a shot of tequila. "Please." She looks up at me and my hand wants to brush her hair back. "Guys, one more shot," she says and the guys come over followed by the girls.

"To Cooper," Erika toasts, holding up her hand and everyone toasts to me. I smile at her and watch her take the shot. I put mine down on the bar and eyeball the bartender who just nods and takes it away.

"This was awesome," Ralph says, giving me a hug. "Thank you so much for having us."

"Guys, I can’t thank you enough for coming," I reply and then put my hand over Erika’s shoulder. "Now I owe her one less favor."

People start leaving. "This was so much fun," Erika says when Geraldo comes up and tells us that the kitchen is clean and there is food on the counter. He kisses Erika on the cheek and I watch to make sure his hands stay where they should be. "The bartenders are going, but they will leave all the booze on the counter."

"Let’s go walk them out," I suggest to her and she nods, the music playing softly. She grabs a chip as she walks to the front door. When the last person leaves, I turn and see her standing with the balloons. Her eyes are so bright.

"Did you take a picture with these?" she asks and I shake my head. She gasps out and runs back to the kitchen coming back with her phone. "Come on.”

"No," I say and she pretends to pout. "One picture."

"Yeah," she cheers, and I only see that her skirt looks like it’s cut on one side showing you more leg. She snaps the picture and then turns the phone to me.

"You know what we need?" she says, and I laugh as she slips her hand into mine. "Shots."

Chapter 14

Erika

I pull him to the kitchen, his hand in mine. "One more shot," I say, turning and looking at him. When I walked in tonight and saw him, my mouth about dropped. He looked like sex. That was the only thing that came to my mind. I took the first shot to clear my head. I am taking the fifteenth, and my head is still cloudy.

I grab two shot glasses and then grab the brown tequila bottle. "We need salt and lime." I pour the shots, my eyes focusing on not spilling anything. His laughter fills the room.

"You are doing that thing again," he groans, walking to get the saltshaker and two pieces of lime.

"I’m trying not to spill the tequila," I defend and set the bottle down. "You’re welcome.

"Okay," I say, licking my hand and laughing when I put some salt on it and then hand it to him. His tongue comes out and licks his hand, and I swear my stomach sinks, or maybe it flips.

"Last one," he vows. Picking up the shots when he puts down the salt, he hands me one, and then I grab a lime. He looks at me. "To you," he says, his voice soft. "For doing this for me. For having my back all the time and for the gifts."

I smile at him, even if I don’t want to. "You’re welcome," I say and lick the salt, take the shot, and then suck the lime. He coughs beside me, and I can’t help throwing my head back and laughing. "Every time."

"It’s the most disgusting thing," he says, grabbing a napkin and wiping his mouth.

"Life would be so much better if we weren’t best friends,” I announce, and he looks at me, smirking.

"What does that mean?" he asks, leaning against the island. My eyes go to the bracelet on his wrist.

"I mean us. It’s so easy and carefree," I tell him. "It’s like we don’t even have to try to like each other. We just do."