Page 32 of Bastard Bartender

“Leave the poor girl alone. She clearly isn’t interested in him or else she’d know better than to wear boat shoes to a race pit.” Mario motions toward my footwear in disgust.

I look down at my very adorable Sperrys. “What’s wrong with my shoes?”

“They are so five years ago, and everyone knows Nic only likes his women in high-tops.”

“Not true.” Nic points at Mario. “I’ve never turned my nose at a pair of killer legs in stilettos.”

Mario laughs as he leans into me. “Correction: he likes the women he beds to wear heels. The women he dates had better be ready for some real cardio. The man’s foreplay is a four-mile hike.”

“Being one with nature is the best aphrodisiac,” Logan chimes in, which causes Dro to roll his eyes. “Unless someone is actually getting laid right now, can we please get our asses in gear? Seriously, are we going to drive today or what?”

“I’m ready to get behind the wheel!” I wink over to Nic, and he drops his head back, laughing.

“This is my thing, woman. You’ll learn I don’t share very well,” he jokes.

“A typical fucking Gemini. I swear, this boy needs a strong woman to rein him in,” Mario says with sarcasm.

“You love me. Admit it,” Nic croons.

Mario rolls his eyes and gives him the finger.

We laugh, and Nic places a hand on the small of my back as we walk through the door.

Inside is a small room with a glass wall that shows off a huge, open warehouse. It’s more than a warehouse; it’s a showroom. Pin lights in the ceiling shine off of every vehicle like diamonds in a display case. Except these diamonds are magnificent pieces of steel with enough horsepower to launch a rocket. They’re powerful and beautiful. Metallic blues, reds, yellows, and blacks show off the sleek lines and curves of the different body styles as chrome lines the exhaust and rims. I stand for a minute to take it all in.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Nic hums in my ear.

“How did you guys find this place? I would have never thought this was inside here from the outside.”

“This is the secret squirrel shit. You have to be invited to know where the nuts are hidden,” he gloats. “It’s one of the perks of being a bartender. You get to meet some pretty cool people who know all the hot places to be at and who to invite.”

I place my hand on my chest and bat my eyelashes. “You mean, like me?”

His booming laughter echoes in the cavernous room. “Exactly. People like you. Though this doesn’t hold a candle to the Justin Bieber concert.”

“Nothing will ever match that amazingness,” I tease, and he joins me in my joke by doing a little samba dance and singing a line from the Spanish song “Despacito” that Bieber released in 2019.

“Are you guys really discussing Justin Bieber?” Dro asks.

“Yes,” I state proudly. “He put on quite the show last night.”

Dro looks to Nic, who holds up his hands. “Hey, you know I’d never turn down free tickets. She works at the new stadium.”

“Nice. Can you get Foot—”

“No,” Nic interrupts before I get a chance to.

Dro looks at me with raised brows. I shrug in response with a shake of my head.

“And here I thought, you were about to become our fifth amigo.” Dro nudges my arm.

“She already is!” Nic says in my defense.

“Does that mean I get my own car?” I stand up straighter and shimmy my shoulders in anticipation.

“Sure,” Nic replies nonchalantly.

I gasp.