Tossing my lime wedge on the table between us, I licked the lingering juice from my lips. Around me, my friends were already on their third shot. Raven and Flick laughed at the face I made as I stared dubiously at my third shot while they picked up their fourth.
Kelli reached around me, picked it up, and downed it, along with her own shot, thankfully taking the decision out of my hands.
I reached for the untouched red solo cup of some kind of fruity rum punch that one of the old ladies had made. The first sip was kind of refreshing, so I took a bigger gulp, before Colt was reaching for the cup, trying to pull it out of my hand.
“Easy there, buttercup. This shit is lethal.”
I snatched it back and took another thirsty swallow before he could take it away again.
“It doesn’t taste like there is even anything in it but juice,” I complained when he lifted the cup over his head. He was such an ass when he did that. He was at least a foot taller than me. I could have kicked him in the balls to get it back, but I loved him too much to damage his boy parts.
“That’s the point, babe,” Kelli told me as she took a drink from her own solo cup. “Mask the taste of liquor and you’ll drink it all night. Then you won’t remember anything come morning when you’re holding the porcelain throne, praying you won’t fall off the ground.”
I gave them both a pout. Then I turned back to Raven and Flick, and Flick handed over her own cup with a wink.
I heard Colt groan from behind me and saw Raven shoot him a glare. To that, he muttered something under his breath before walking away.
“How the fuck did you do that?” Kelli demanded as she sat her cup on the table between us and leaned forward. “Do you have superpowers or something? Teach me!”
Blonde brows lifted toward the ceiling as Raven turned her green gaze on me. “Is she drunk already?”
I nearly snorted my punch up my nose. Coughing, I shook my head. “Nope. She’s still as sober as you.”
Raven could hold her liquor better than any woman I had ever seen. She could have drunk half the tequila bottle by herself and still would have been just as coherent as if she’d had nothing to drink at all. I wasn’t completely sure she was human.
“Huh.” Raven’s lips twitched with humor. “Stick around, Kelli. I’ll teach you a few tricks.”
I stood there, enjoying my punch and watching the people around us. Some of the old ladies were at a table across the room from us, laughing and having a good time. MC brothers were spread around the room, drinking beer, and shooting pool at the four tables in what was considered the living room. Every now and then, I would catch a glimpse of one of my sisters hanging off some random guy.
I was just thankful they weren’t fucking around with Raider tonight.
Thinking of that particular MC brother, I started gulping my punch. Within seconds, my cup was empty.
Raven stepped closer to me and exchanged my empty cup for her almost full one with a wink.
“Colt is going to be so pissed.” I giggled and took a sip.
“Colt’s an old mother hen where you’re concerned. Don’t worry; I won’t let him ground you.” Raven playfully bumped my hip with hers. “Take it easy with this cup, though. I don’t want to be responsible for you getting alcohol poisoning.”
I was starting to feel very relaxed and at ease. I liked it. Nothing could have bothered me right then. I was numb to the constant dull pain around my heart and when I saw my oldest sister, Heather, giving me the stink eye, I didn’t even care. Instead, I grinned at her and lifted my cup, almost daring her to mess with me.
When Raven shifted beside me, Heather’s gaze was drawn to her. Whatever she saw when she looked at my friend had her quickly turning away.
Curious, I glanced at Raven to find that darkness on her face that could scare the piss out of more than half the females in the room at any given moment.
“Why don’t you just stomp those bitches and be done with it?” Raven muttered low enough so only I could hear her.
I shrugged. “Probably because they would fight dirty, and it would turn into a three on one where I ended up bald and toothless.”
I had been in enough fights with my sisters over the years to know what the outcome would be, and the odds were definitely not in my favor.
I was the good girl of my mother’s four daughters. I had graduated from high school, worked hard, and when Mom had gotten sick, I had been the one to take care of her. After she had passed away, I had tried to stay in the house where I had grown up, but my sisters had made that impossible. Thankfully, Colt had helped me find the house I was renting now.
“Hey, Raven.” We both turned to find Willa and Gracie standing a few feet away. “Can you help us out in the kitchen with something?”
“Yeah, I’m coming.” She gave me a grim smile, her eyes on my red solo cup. “Sip that.”
Once she was gone, it was just Flick and Kelli