I nodded, understanding now why Natalie had some of her trust issues. I took the beers, while the waitress brought the shots back to our table.
Natalie met us there. “What, you don't want to play any more games with me?”
“No way, you're whooping my butt. I will, however, play a drinking game with you, because I'm pretty sure I have you beat on that front.”
She laughed in a way that made me doubt my confidence. I asked the waitress for a deck of cards, and she promptly brought them over. We ended up playing blackjack. It was one of my favorite card games, and we started going drink for drink for the loser. We played a solid five rounds before she started whooping my ass again. I groaned. She had only let me get that far just to make me feel safe. How could I have been so stupid; the girl was a shark through and through. I should have asked the waitress if Daddy ever taught Natalie cards.
“Let me guess, your dad taught you how to play Blackjack?”
She nodded. “Poker, too.”
“Of course. Brilliant.”
We continued the game for the next hour, laughing together. That was one thing Natalie and I did well?laugh together. We always seemed to have such a great time together. We were progressively getting drunk at that point, and I worried that she might end up throwing up if she drank anymore. Or maybe I was just worried that I would throw up. We had been doing rounds of shots all night, and at that point, I couldn't even taste them anymore.
“Well, well, well. Haven't I just kicked your butt all night? How does it feel, Jet, to have your ass handed to you?” She slurred as she said it, but her slurring was actually kind of cute.
“Well, I'm not impressed with you, if that's what you're asking. I was actually going to suggest going for burgers later, but there's no way I can bring your drunk little ass anywhere. They would surely have you arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”
She giggled. She had totally embarrassed me when it came to winning any games that n
ight, but I had a hard time caring; she looked so happy, and that was worth losing any game for. There was no way either of us was driving home, either, so we definitely needed a new plan.
“Well, darling, I think I'm tapping out for the rest of the night. So do you want to catch a cab back to my place?”
She could suggest going home alone, and I wouldn't fight her, but I also wasn't throwing away an opportunity to have that beautiful redhead sleep beside me another night. Maybe I could even convince her to stay in the morning instead of sneaking off, which seemed to be her MO.
The waitress came back to the table, and I asked her for the tab. When she returned, I realized that we had spent over $100 in booze that night.
I left her with a $35 tip, and her mouth hung open. I realized she didn’t get generous tips on a regular basis.
“How are you kids getting home? You're not thinking of driving, I hope?”
“No, we're just going to grab a cab back to my place.”
“Well, I'm getting off in a few minutes, I just have to count my till, and I can give you a drive home. Do you live far from here?”
“No, I live by the university.”
“Okay, I will get you there. Just give me a minute.”
“Thanks, Deb,” Natalie jumped in.
“You're welcome, sweetie, and don't be a stranger next time. Come back soon.”
Natalie nodded. We waited until Deb had finished work, and we walked with her out to her car. She drove an old station wagon and Natalie and I piled into the back seat. I told Deb where I lived and she pulled out of the parking lot and headed to my place.
Natalie hadn't argued about our destination at that point, so I assumed she was okay with crashing at my place.
Deb dropped us off at the front of my building and we both thanked her for the ride. Natalie and I headed up the stairs, and I realized that the door was open, so I knew that Kyle was awake. He was watching a movie in the living room, and looked up when we walked in. He smirked and shook his head, but didn't say anything about Natalie being there.
“Did you guys have a good night?”
“Yeah, we did; pretty awesome, actually. Did you stay in all night?”
“Yup, just chilled out with a movie and some beers.”
“That's cool. Anyway, goodnight.”