Page 61 of This for That (The Edge of Retaliation 1)
“This place is nice,” I tell Andrea.
“It is; you’ll love their cocktails. Sit, I’ll order the first round.”
We all sit at a flashy booth with smooth leather chairs, and wait as Andrea orders our drinks.
“How long have you been friends with Andrea?” I ask Meghan and Mandy.
“For a long time,” Mandy says. “Hell, since we were kids. We all grew up together.”
“Oh, so you know Tanner then?”
They both nod, and something flashes across Mandy’s face. I can’t really pinpoint what it is, but it’s a look that I notice without a doubt.
“What about the rest of the guys?” Jo asks. “Are you all close?”
Mandy shakes her head. “No, we don’t really know them all that well. Tanner only sort of became friends with them when he served overseas. They’re smoking-hot though.”
Jo laughs. “That they are.”
“Are you taken, Jo?” Meghan asks.
“I am. I’m married,” Jo says, and her voice takes on a slightly disappointed tone.
“How nice,” Meghan says, then looks to me. “What about you, Callie?”
“Not with anyone exclusively at the moment.” But I do get down and dirty with Tanner, and oh lord, is it good.
I don’t say that, of course. These are friends of his. It would be awkward. Besides, I don’t know their history.
“I’m back!” Andrea cries, placing a tray of very colorful drinks down on the table.
She hands one to each of us, and I take a sip of mine. Wow, it’s strong, and sweet, and really yummy.
“These are great,” I tell her.
“They’re the bartender’s special. They’re amazing, aren’t they?”
Jo nods, taking a second sip of hers.
Andrea joins us, and we continue chatting away. We talk about our goals, our jobs, men, and everything in between. We laugh a lot, we drink a lot, and as the night slowly creeps on, I feel more and more relaxed.
“What did you do for a living before you met Andrea?” Mandy asks me when Andrea gets up for another round of drinks.
“Oh, just the same thing really. Waitressing and other odd jobs.” I hate lying. I hate when people ask me these questions. It makes me so damned uncomfortable.
“Oh, like what?”
She’s questioning me too much. Does she recognize me somehow?
“Let’s dance!” Jo says, clapping her hands and standing.
“Great idea,” I cry, so grateful for her quick thinking.
She takes my hand and we shuffle out onto the dance floor. When we’re out there, and we’re dancing, I mouth a ‘thank you’ to her, and she gives me the thumbs up.
We dance until our legs burn and our lungs are exhausted from all the heavy breathing we’re doing as we work our bodies. I tell Jo I’m going to sit back down and get a drink, and I make my way back to the table. The girls were dancing, too, and have just sat down also.
“That dance floor is amazing.” Andrea laughs when I sit down.
“You’re right; it is. This club is great.”
“It sure is!”
I pull out my phone as I sip my drink, and see three missed calls and three messages from Tanner. My heart flutters in my chest as I read them.
T – How long until you’re done with Andrea? I want you here.
T – Hurry up, darlin’. I want to put my mouth on you. Everywhere.
My cheeks burn.
T – Half an hour, baby. Be here.
I swallow and I can’t stop the stupid grin on my face as I text back, asking for his address. He gives it to me, and I turn to Andrea.
“I’m going to head out soon. I promised Tanner I’d swing by and catch up with him, too.”
Andrea nods. “Yeah he mentioned that. Are you two a thing?”
I shake my head. “Oh, ah, not that I know of.”
At least, I don’t think we are yet.
“Well, thanks for coming, I had an absolute blast!”
I smile. “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Where are we going?” Jo asks, stumbling to the table and grabbing onto the sides. Her eyes are bloodshot and she’s drunk, but she’s the happiest I’ve seen her in weeks.
“To see Tanner. You coming?”
“Is that other hot one going to be there?” she asks.
“Tatum?” I ask.
“Yeah, that one.”
Andrea laughs. “Tatum is gorgeous, isn’t he?”
Jo nods. “He sure is. I like the whole mysterious part, to be honest.”
“How about Garrett?” Meghan fans herself. “He’s lovely.”
I laugh. “They’re all pretty hot, really.”
Andrea nods. “That’s for sure. I wasn’t complaining when Tanner started hanging around them.”
I grin at her, and then grab my purse and tell everyone goodbye. Then Jo and I leave and catch a cab to the address Tanner gave me.
I’m excited. Nervous. Full of anticipation.
Tanner gets to me. He makes me feel things I haven’t felt before.
I’m excited to see where that goes.
“LADIES,” TATUM MURMURS, opening the door and staring at us with those gorgeous sky-blue eyes that you could get lost in. “You both look fuckin’ gorgeous tonight.”
