Big Dick Energy - Cindi Madsen Page 0,4

I asked, waving a hand in front of my face, and the gals snorted.

“You’re a total boss babe; you just gotta embrace it.” Hands planted on the table, Cat lifted herself a few inches off her chair and put on the game face she used in the courtroom. “You glare and stand your ground. And anytime some dude thinks he can talk over you, you hold up your hand, Kamala Harris the shit out of them, and say I’m speaking.”

“I’ll toast to that,” I said, lifting my glass. “You’re right—the both of you. I’m not going to sit here and whine about what I can’t control. I’m going to reach for that glass ceiling and slam my fist through it like so many amazing women have done before me.”

The clink of our glasses filled the air, and I downed the last of my margarita. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna get a stronger drink so I can cling to this power vibe and make a plan for Monday.”

“Less planning, more conviction behind what you’ve already planned,” Cat said, and that was all fine and well, but we both knew she researched like a mad woman before court.

As I turned to walk away, Ellie smacked me on the ass, and I full on swaggered up the bar and lifted a finger. Exuding confidence was obviously working, as one of the big and beefy dudes slinging drinks rushed right over.

“I’ll have a seven and seven tall with a lime.” I leaned over the bar and shot the musclebound booze-slinger my most confident grin. “You know what? Make it a double.”

2

Archer

The blonde with the pouty lips caught my eye the instant I walked into Paddy’s Gaslamp Pub. Honestly, I had trouble not starting, and I certainly wasn’t alone. I nearly sent over a drink, but admittedly, I would’ve never guessed whiskey and 7-Up.

I also didn’t want to interrupt the boisterous celebration she and her friends were having, complete with hugging over the table and cheek kissing, and inwardly my brain was screaming for them to fall together and… I shook away the fantasy, because the one who’d be kissing this woman’s lips tonight would be me.

Long story short, I bided my time and now was the opening I’d been waiting for.

Snagging the glass with the remains of my jack and Coke, I scooted down two stools, planting myself next to her curvy hip, and told the bartender to add her drink to my tab. Then I extended my palm and locked eyes with her. “Archer. And you are…?”

“Able to pay for my drinks myself,” she said with an unimpressed expression on her face, not even bothering to glance my way. Yeah, she was a knock-out, but she’d also exuded a bubbly energy that left me thinking she was the sweet type. Some guys liked their woman on the volatile side, but in high school I hadn’t known the difference, and I wasn’t down for screaming matches and mood swings anymore—I’d had plenty of that at home. Taylor Swift got it wrong when she said boys only wanted love if it was torture.

Holy shit, I just made a Taylor Swift reference. At least it’d stayed in my head, or I would’ve had to kick my own ass, but it was official: Izzie was slowly ruining me, one blasted track at a time.

I’d text my tween halfsister and tell her so, but she’d only celebrate and think I was giving in, the way I had earlier today when I’d played chauffer to her and her giggling gaggle of friends.

“I didn’t mean to offend. You just caught my eye from across the room. I figured I’d offer to buy your drink so you and your friends could continue entertaining us all with your celebration.”

At that, she fully turned, fire in her eyes. It flickered for a moment, so I shot her my most winning smile. For some reason that fueled the anger, the muscles in her jaw tightening instead of relaxing. “Talk about egotistical. As if everything we do is for men’s entertainment. Meanwhile you line up at the bar and gape, imaging you have a chance at landing in the middle of our friendship sandwich.”

She wasn’t totally off base, but I knew better than to admit that. One thing was for sure—I definitely overestimated the nice. Then again, she probably got hit on all the time, and I’d thrown out the bare minimum. In my defense, the past few days I’d been surrounded by so