Free Drunk and Disorderly (Love in the City Short) by Liv Morris Page A

America. All the pageant practice came in handy after all. Wouldn’t my mother be proud?
    “The proceeds of tonight’s Casino Night will be split between the football booster club and the art department. So please support Peachtree by throwing some dice or turning a few cards...”
    Just as Coop is speaking mid-sentence, there’s a loud commotion in the back of the room. I stand up on my tiptoes to see what’s going on back there. Coop steadies my balance by placing his hand on the shoulder opposite of him. I am swaying a bit.
    I see a woman escorting a police officer toward us, zigzagging through the tables with people standing motionless at them likely wondering what the hell is going on. The woman walking our way is clearly upset, but the officer shows no emotion. His face is totally impassive. Not an expression shows. I can’t for the life of me figure out what the hell is going on but I have a feeling this angry woman is about to clear things up for me.
    “Officer, these two are the leaders here tonight.” I gasp as she points to Coop and me. What the heck?   “This whole evening is a game of chance. Unauthorized gambling in the eyes of the law.”
    Now the two intruders to the event are standing in front us. “I think we can clear this whole thing up quickly,” the officer says in a commanding way, full of authority. His voice is the only sound in the room and strangely echoes off the walls. “We just need to see your permit to operate a charitable evening of gambling. I’m sure the fundraising chairperson has it.”
    Holy shit! I don’t know the first or last thing about a gambling permit. And the chairperson is out of town taking care of her sick parent. All this adds up to us being royally screwed.
    “Sir,” Coop begins. “I think I can clear this up quickly. You may know me as Andrew Cooper, former tight end for the Falcons.”
    “Son, I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re the Pope. I need to see that paper.”
    Now’s when things get a little crazy. I decide to pipe in here and it’s not very helpful at all. Shocking, I’m sure.
    “See, Coop. Finally someone who’s not impressed with you and your superstar status.”
    I push him with both hands, but he hardly moves. In frustration, I start beating on his chest. Not one of my finest moments. He grabs my hands, more in defense from my slight beatings, but still I protest with gusto, struggling and fighting with him.
    “How dare you hold me like that? Let go of me.” I try to free myself to no avail.
    “I’m not letting go of you until you calm the hell down.” I’m pretty sure the entire room hears him say that through the microphone. The gasp I hear somewhere in the room proves the point.
    “How can I calm down when you’re such an asshole?” I hear even more gasps after that one.
    “Okay, you two.” The officer comes up onto the platform with us, moves his face in front of mine and takes a deep breath. “Just as I thought. Drinking. Both of you.”
    “What?” Coop asks incredulously. “I’ve not had a single drink tonight.”
    “Well, I’ve heard that one before. How about this then? I’m taking her to jail for being drunk and you for being disorderly. She did ask you to remove your hands and you didn’t comply.”
    I look to my wrist and see Coop’s fingers still wrapped around them. Then in a split second, he releases them. Like they’re hot coals, burning his skin.
    “Officer, I apologize for their behavior tonight.” Mr. Reynolds appears in front of the podium, hopefully coming to our rescue. “It appears that we do have a permit, though it’s in the hands of our event’s chairperson. She was called out of town on a family emergency.”
    Mr. Reynolds comes up on the platform, stops at the officer’s side, and whispers something into his ear. I watch as the officer nods his head up and down agreeing with whatever Mr. Reynolds told him. Hope springs up that this is all getting cleared up and the Casino Night