“And I’ll finish this champagne.” She smiles, doing a little dance, shaking her hips.

   Shit.

   Here’s to me surviving tonight.

Chapter Five

   “Dude, you have to taste this, it’s amazing,” Billie says, bringing the chopsticks to my lips.

   I take a bite and have to agree. “Okay, we need to order more of that. Plus, filling your stomach is a good idea.”

   “Filling our stomachs,” she replies, and eats another dumpling. “When’s the last time you got drunk with me?”

   I rack my brain. “Your last birthday?”

   “You had two drinks,” she reminds me, lifting her brows and chewing slowly. “And then you left early to finish some work. I think you were investigating some guy that was cheating on his wife. Oh my God, why didn’t I just ask you to look into Troy? We could have found out about him much earlier.”

   “Because you trusted him and thought he was someone that he wasn’t?”

   “Yeah, what a rookie mistake that was,” she grumbles, pursing her red lips. “I swear, I’m going to stay single for the rest of my life. I’m destined to be a spinster. I don’t need kids. I’ll just be a cool auntie to all yours when you have them.”

   Her comment hurts me more than she will ever know, but then again, it’s my fault for not telling her there’s a chance that I might never have kids.

   “What about sex?” I ask, changing the subject. “And don’t you even try to tell me you don’t need that.”

   “Sex isn’t a problem for me. Sex is easy. I’ll find a fuck buddy or two, or a friend with benefits, that’s easily solved,” she replies, shrugging. “Worse comes to worst, all my friends keep talking about some sex toy that’s supposed to even be better than the real thing.”

   I laugh at her problem-solving skills. “Not all men are like Troy. I’m sure one day you’ll meet someone worthy of you, and then I’ll get to be the cool auntie.”

   “Maybe you and Crow will have a nest of little baby Crows.”

   I roll my eyes at her. “This little intervention tonight isn’t about me, it’s about you.”

   “Yeah, but you have a love interest. All I have right now is bitterness,” she says, and eats the last of the food from her plate. “And perhaps tomorrow, alcohol poisoning.”

   “It’s been a while since I’ve danced,” I admit. We decided to sit outside of the restaurant, and I find myself enjoying the hustle and bustle, the music, the lights, and the people. “It’s a beautiful night. Thanks for dragging me out. I would have been on the couch in my pajamas with a tub of ice cream otherwise.”

   “Thanks for coming out with me,” she says, lifting her glass. “You are the one person who knows me in all of my stages: the old me, the present me, and the new me. You know I love you, right?”

   “I love you too. To the present versions of us.”

   We clink our glasses together, finish up, and then head to our next spot for the night.

   A bar.

   Stepping inside, I kind of wish I’d dressed up a little more. I barely put on any makeup other than some mascara and highlighter, my hair wild down my back. Billie’s obviously a little more prepared, fitting in perfectly in her dress and heels.

   “Have you been here before?” I ask, leaning on the glass bar and waiting to be served.

   “Nope,” she replies, looking at the dance floor. “I think it’s new, that’s why it’s so busy. Pretty cool, though, huh?”

   “Yeah,” I have to admit. It’s playing the type of music I love, R&B and reggae, and my hips move to the beat of their own accord. “What’s it called again?”

   “Kamikaze,” a familiar voice answers from behind me. My head snaps back so fast I’m surprised it doesn’t break.

   What are the chances I’d run into his ass tonight?

   “Crow,” I say, ducking my head.

   Billie looks over my shoulder, eying him. “Hello.”

   Sighing, I say, “This is Billie. Billie, this is Crow.”

   I hate when people don’t introduce other people. I find it extremely rude, so I make sure I get that out of the way immediately.

   “Nice to meet you,” Crow says to her politely, then brings those ocean-blue eyes back to me. “I thought you weren’t much of a drinker.”

   “I’m not,” I reply, lifting my chin and narrowing my eyes. “That doesn’t mean that I never have a drink. This your new hunting ground?”

   His lip twitches. “Something like that. We actually just opened this place.”

   “What don’t you own?” I grumble, scanning the place in a new light. The Knights must make a shit-load of money, because it seems like they have their fingers in all kinds of pies.

   “She doesn’t drink,” Billie pipes in, smirking. “Or leave the house. I had to drag her ass out tonight.”

   Crow grins and signals the bartender. “Tough week at work, Bronte?”

   “Something like that,” I mutter, checking him out in his black shirt and jeans. “Run out of hideously printed shirts?”

   He orders two margaritas and a whiskey, then turns his attention back to me. “That’s more my day attire.”

   “Good to know.”

   “He’s really fucking cute,” Billie whispers so only I can hear. “And the way he’s looking at you...”

   I nudge her, needing her to be quiet because that’s the last thing I need him to hear.

   He slides us each a margarita. “We have the best cocktails in the city, and these are supposed to be the highlight.”

   “A little biased,” I reply, arching my brow. “But thank you.”

   Taking a sip, the salt hitting my tongue, I have to agree that it’s a pretty great drink. “It’s good.”

   “Good? These are amazing.” Billie beams, stepping out from the side of me to see Crow better. “This is going to be my new place.”

   “Bronte!” Cam calls out, running up to me from the dance floor and giving me a big hug. “I didn’t know you were coming out tonight. Do you know I haven’t stopped raving about the cake you made me? I think it’s the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. I was pissed when Crow ate the hugest chunk out of it.”

   “I’m glad you liked it.” I smile, then introduce Cam to Billie.