Free Inked on Paper by Nicole Edwards Page B

do you wanna do now?”
    “I dunno.”
    “We could go bowling.”
    Abby gave me her perfected get real face and I grinned.
    “You won’t catch me in those ugly shoes.”
    “Okay, fine. How ’bout we go back to your house and I kick your ass at Halo.”
    “You’re on. But, Uncle Jake?” She stared back at me, head cocked, one eyebrow raised.
    “Hmm?”
    “You haven’t kicked my ass once, so I’m not sure why you think this time’ll be any different.”
    “There’s a first time for everything, kid.”

Chapter Twelve
    Presley
    Sunday night
    “Honey, you need to get laid,” Blaze bellowed before tossing back another shot of tequila. “You know, by some outrageously hot guy who’s gonna pin you against the wall and make you beg for mercy.”
    I tossed my shot back before I answered her. “Not gonna happen.”
    “Please don’t tell me that Adrian was the last guy you got horizontal with.” Blaze’s expression turned serious. “That dude’s the world’s biggest douche.”
    “Can’t argue with you there,” I told her, pouring another shot. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was talk about Adrian. Or anyone, for that matter.
    I’d spent the entire day at the shop handling three walk-ins, all of whom had wanted tattoos that took more time to prepare for than to actually ink. And now, I wanted to sit back, get wasted, then pass out and sleep until I felt better.
    “How was the sex with him, anyway?”
    “With who?” I asked, playing dumb.
    Blaze narrowed her eyes at me. “Adrian.”
    I didn’t miss a beat before I said, “Boring.”
    “Really?” Blaze snorted. “I always heard rock stars had it going on.”
    “Yeah, well, I think rock stars are the ones who started that rumor.”
    Blaze grabbed her shot glass. “You’re probably right about that.”
    We downed two more shots, and our laughter continued until the front door opened and in walked Gavin.
    As soon as he stepped in the doorway, he stopped cold, watching the two of us closely.
    “Wussup, Gav?” Blaze greeted him, her words slurring. She looked at me and grinned. “He’s an outrageously hot guy,” Blaze said in what she probably assumed was a whisper but wasn’t.
    “I definitely am,” he agreed, that mischievous smirk on his face. “Is this party just gettin’ started? Or are we about to turn on the decision-maker lights?” Gavin closed the front door behind him and tossed his coat onto one of the barstools, his eyes never straying from us.
    “The night’s still young,” Blaze informed him. “Can’t say the same about you, though.”
    Gavin continued to watch us. “How much have you had?”
    “Not enough,” I admitted, reaching for the bottle to pour more shots. “Now quit acting like an old man and come drink with us.”
    “Hold up,” Blaze said, snatching the bottle out of my hand. “Not until he pays the ten-dollar buy-in fee.”
    “Buy-in?” A crease formed in Gavin’s forehead. “What the hell’s a buy-in fee? This ain’t poker.”
    Blaze pointed a finger in his direction. “I paid for the booze, and you gotta buy in if you want some. Ten dollars.”
    Gavin grabbed his wallet out of his back pocket, flipped it open, and pulled out a five-dollar bill, then tossed it in Blaze’s lap.
    “Dude, who’s the one who’s been drinkin’ tonight?” Blaze slurred. “That ain’t ten bucks.”
    “No, but you bought cheap booze, so there’s a fifty percent discount.”
    “Fine. Whatever.” Blaze snatched up the money and tucked it into her bra.
    I smiled at Gavin. “Grab another shot glass.”
    After a quick detour to the kitchen, Gavin returned, setting his glass down beside the other two, then dropping onto the couch beside Blaze.
    With an unsteady hand, Blaze filled all three but ended up with more on the glass table than in the shot glasses.
    “What’re we drinking to?” Gavin asked.
    “Hot guys nailing us to the wall,” Blaze blurted.
    I rolled my eyes.
    “Ain’t no guy nailing me to the