Page 24 of A Really Bad Idea

“I like your friends. They’re really weird,” Denny says to Angela.

We all laugh. Well, everyone but Brian and Christian.

I ignore the intensity radiating off of Christian and lift my glass with the rest of my friends. Christian leans into me, about to speak, when Natasha clears her throat.

“Can I have a word?” she says to Christian, and he gets up to speak to her, away from the table.

Angela raises a glass in a toast. “To Meadow. May this next year be full of new adventures, good sex, and plenty of whiskey!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Beth is next to raise her drink, and I follow suit along with everyone else.

The rest of the dinner goes great. They serve sorbet for dessert. Then, a cake comes out, and the entire restaurant seems to chime in to sing. As I’m about to blow out my candles on the New York–style cheesecake, I gaze at my family and friends and settle an eye right on Christian, who is now standing behind Angela and Denny, holding out his iPhone and taking a video.

I close my eyes and make a wish.

I wish …

After dinner, the office girls and my college friends leave, and the rest of us mosey over to the bar for more drinking, laughing, and talking.

“I’m going to go home,” I hear Natasha drawl behind me.

Stupidly, I turn in her direction. She looks just as polished as she did three hours ago. I, on the other hand, probably have eyeliner smudge, and my red lipstick is gone.

I’m about to thank her for coming when I notice her fingers walking up Christian’s chest.

“You’re welcome to join me,” she invitingly says to him.

His eyes meet mine over her head, and I quickly look away as Beth struts over.

“Come on.” He motions to Natasha and walks her out the front door.

“This was really sweet of him.” Beth climbs on a stool beside me. Her cheeks are flush from all the wine she’s been drinking.

I’ve been neatly sipping my drinks all night, careful not to be a drunken mess. “He can be a good guy every once in a while.”

“That man loves you.”

“Like a sister. And a work wife.”

“Fuck that. Brian has never thrown me a surprise party.” She nods toward her husband, who is leaning against the wall, thumbing away on his iPhone.

“Brian’s not really the surprise kinda guy,” I explain.

“Except in the bedroom. Last month, he bought me a swing.” She waggles her brows.

“TMI, Beth. That’s my brother!” I have to shake the mental image of Brian having kinky sex, but curiosity gets the best of me. “So, when you say swing, you mean, a sex swing, right?”

She nods enthusiastically, swaying to the side. Yes, Beth has definitely had way too much to drink tonight.

I grin into my glass. “How does that work exactly?”

She doesn’t hold back her delight to tell all, but she’s interrupted when Brian appears between the two of us and places a hand on her back.

“Okay, you. That’s enough for tonight.”

“Oh, you’re no fun.” She pouts and leans an arm behind him. From the way he arches forward, I’m pretty sure she just squeezed his ass.

Brian helps her stand up straight and places her coat over her shoulders. “Let’s get you back to the hotel.”