“It was nice to see you,” I forced from my lips and turned my back to them.
Lissa hesitated. “But…”
“That means bye.” Eliza waved.
“Golly, what kind of friends keep things like that from one another?” Camilla tsked.
I focused and didn’t relax until Lissa went back to her table. My Fae hearing didn’t let me escape so easily. “She was always a little weird…”
I squeezed my eyes shut at Lissa’s words, my chest twisting in betrayal. They were never my friends. They muttered more disparaging comments as they moved to a table further from my group. Inhale. Exhale. I concentrated on what was in front of me. I was done listening to their shit.
“Have you done your socio paper?” Jennie said and turned to Rosalind. They sprung into a conversation about homework that made me sad. I never thought I’d wish I had to worry about a sociology paper.
The glass scrapped against the surface as Camilla slid a drink in front of me with an understanding glint in her eyes. “Sorry, Jennie, I didn’t know you were coming. I would have ordered you one.”
“No worries. I’ll get my own in a sec.”
Eliza took a healthy chug and thumped it back down while Camilla and I nursed ours. “So, I have a dare for you,” Eliza sang and looked at a paling Camilla.
“No,” she groaned, and her head tilted back, exposing her neck.
I laughed. “You guys are still at the dares?”
“Oh, yes, and Camilla here lost our last bet.” The smile on Eliza’s face made me pity her. There would be no mercy.
Camilla moaned. “Not here, let me be in peace.”
“No, my dear country bumpkin, I’m going to dare you to…” Eliza paused for dramatic effect, and I wanted to giggle at the edged look on Camilla’s face. “Ask a man out.”
“No, you already did that to me,” Camilla whined. I burst out laughing and took another swig of my drink.
“I did indeed, but it was my mistake letting you choose who to ask,” Eliza said matter-of-factly. “This time, it’s going to be a red-blooded man. Not that shy bird you chose. He could hardly speak in the presence of your gorgeousness.”
At Eliza’s announcement, Camilla’s head thumped forward, and she set her forehead on the rim of her glass. I took another drink and realized I had finished it. I scowled at my drink. I was hardly woozy, but I should have been headlong in tipsy-ville. Was I human enough to be drunk? Could Fae even get drunk?
“That one,” Eliza said and nodded in the direction of a table on the other side of the bar.
When I looked that way, I was floored. Wowza. The two men nursing beers were deep in conversation. One must have felt our eyes because he smiled and looked directly at our group. The hazel eyes sparkled with mirth.
I closed my eyes and channeled my hearing, but no matter what I tried, I couldn’t pick out their voices. There were too many people here. The other male at the table scowled fiercely as he glared at his grinning friend. His scowl didn’t lessen as he looked up and took our group in, green eyes seeming to flicker with gold.
“Wow, their eyes are super cool,” I muttered without thinking.
“You can see their eyes?” Eliza exclaimed. I shushed her, turning my gaze to Jennie, but she was still deep in conversation with Rosalind. “Details, please.”
“The scowling one has green eyes, and the other one has hazel.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting,” Eliza breathed. “I want you to ask for scowl guy’s number.”
“What?” Camilla shot up and slammed her hand on the table. An oval imprint of the cup ringed her forehead, and I squeezed my lips together to stop my laughter.
Eliza snorted. “You heard me, the one with the green eyes. He seems like what your type should be. All burley and muscly and a bit scary-looking. You need a good tossing about by a caveman type. Loosen you up from all that studying you did.”
“You sound intrigued, you go ask him,” Camilla floundered.
“Nope, that’s the bet. Plus, I don’t mesh with the whole caveman bit, I need a bit more control. Don’t think you’re distracting me. You have two minutes to get your butt over there to ask.”
Camilla glared at her. “You are evil.”
“Hi, these drinks were sent over by the two gentlemen over there.” A tray clapped on the table, and the irritated waitress strutted off.
I looked at the drinks. There were five, and they looked exactly like the ones we had purchased. I felt a tingle on the back of my neck like someone was watching me, and I turned searching. Unable to find anything, my eyes returned to those two guys at their table. The playful one raised his glass. I turned away and looked at the drinks.
“There you go, Camilla. They see something they like over here. I think you’ll be okay.” I grabbed one and sipped it. My God, it tasted delicious. There was an underlying hint of something that made my mouth water. I chugged half the drink and moaned.
“That good?” Jennie intoned and grabbed one and took sips. She grimaced and put it down. “Uh, no, they taste horrid.”
“You’re talking crazy! You guys, I swear it’s amazing.”
Eliza grabbed one and sipped it. I finished chugging mine and barely stopped myself from grabbing another.
“It’s pretty delicious.” Eliza licked her lips. “Something’s off with your taste buds, Jennie.”
It was more than delicious. It was heaven.
Eliza scooted hers to Camilla, who had just finished downing hers, and slapped her on the back. “There you go, liquid courage.”
I snorted out a laugh. Oh, yes, Fae could get drunk. They were so funny. I was happy I’d met them because they were the best.
“Go, go, go,” I chanted, egging the entire situation on.
Camilla sent me an exaggerated look of betrayal and grabbed the second drink
