I climbed into bed and slept for the first time in two weeks .
Chapter Fifteen
Whiskey
“I don’t feel like going to a barbecue .”
“That’s probably because you’ve been drinking for a week .”
I grumbled, taking the hot coffee Donahue was forcing on me. It was still early and the bar was just starting to fill up. I had plenty of drinking left to do. I wanted to drown out the voices in my head. The voices that told me I’d had the perfect woman and lost her, all before the age of twenty-seven .
But the guys were completely insensitive to my misery. They seemed determined to sober me up, despite my best efforts to remain shit faced for as long as humanly possible .
“If you don’t come, I will be forced to do unspeakable things .”
He ducked his head and muttered something under his breath as I took a sip of the scalding hot coffee .
Jesus, this crap tasted like battery acid !
“What ?”
“Nothing .”
“Really? Because it sounded like you said something about not getting laid for a month .”
He gave me a dirty look as Jack sat down beside me. Donnie poured him a ginger ale and slid it across the bar .
“I need help tomorrow .”
“Not you too .”
Jack gave me a piercing stare .
“You are the best griller we have. And Janet’s craving spicy food. She asked for your rub specifically .”
“Craving? As in… pregnancy cravings ?”
Donnie let out a whoop. He thought it was endlessly hilarious how many kids Jack had, and how amazing he was with them. To be fair, it was pretty funny to see such a big, scary looking guy with red-headed toddlers crawling all over him .
The big guy didn’t stand a chance .
They had their daddy wrapped around their cute, little fingers .
“Don’t say anything. She’s being very sensitive about it. And I will have to hurt you if you upset Janet .”
Donnie held up his hands. He was a dad too. He knew the drill .
“Not a word , man .”
I finished the coffee and Donnie poured me another. He leaned on the bar, giving me his ‘big brother’ face. Between him and Jack, I was surrounded .
“Drink up. And get to bed early. And shave. Wear something respectable .”
I rubbed my face .
“Shave and dress up? For a barbecue ?”
“Dev wants you to come. It’s inner circle only. Are you really going to tell him ‘no ?’”
I looked up as the door opened. The Club Prez walked in, looking stern. Everyone stopped to watch him. He might be young to run a club this size, but he had the respect of every man in here .
Including mine .
I shook my head. I didn’t really have a choice. There was no way I was letting Devlin down .
“Fine .”
“Good. Now do you want me to get you a new shirt? You should look nice. Sally’s publicist might stop by for some casual shots for her next album cover .”
I raised my eyebrows. Donnie’s wife was an amazing country music singer. She was up and coming, but she was getting a lot of press and radio time these days. She had even gotten her first video on the Country Music Channel .
“Sally wants us on her album cover ?”
“Yeah. They are going for a more real life kind of vibe. So they are trying some casual shots of her and her family. That’s us .”
“Wow, that’s the big time man .”
“Well, we’ll make the liner notes anyway. Come on, it will be fun. Oh, and bring your swim trunks .”
“I don’t even own a pair of swim trunks .”
“No worries, I have a spare. Never even wore them .”
Donnie pulled out his phone and texted something furtively. I shrugged. I guess I was going swimming .
“I better get home and make sure I have enough marinade. I think I have some steaks .”
“You do that. We’ll bring everything else .”
I downed the second cup of coffee, feeling human for the first time in days .
“Thanks man.” I toasted Donnie with my coffee. “But they better not be speedos .”
Chapter Sixteen
Becky
I stared in the mirror, looking at my ensemble. Cut off jean shorts and a short sleeved floral top. I pressed my palm into my stomach, watching it pop right back out again. I couldn’t help wondering if it would ever be flat again .
Not that it mattered, but I did feel a little self-conscious about my body after having Eliza. I knew it was silly but I couldn’t help it. It was just there in the back of my mind, in case I ever got naked in front of someone again .
Or I could just become a nun. That would solve everything .
Good plan, Becks .
I sighed, turning this way and that way. The girls really had worked a miracle with my skin and hair. I chewed on my bottom lip, considering the outfit. I liked my shoes. I had on cute little striped sneakers with white cotton ankle socks. Not the kind of sneakers you went running in. The kind you wore to hang around in .