stands and wraps her arms around me. “We were just talking about you.”
“Hopefully all good,” I tease, unable to look at Tyler.
“Of course. It’s always good,” Tyler says, and when I glance at him, I instantly regret it. His brown eyes are warm and inviting, and I hate that they send chills down my body.
“Pinot Noir, darling?” Robert grasps my shoulders and squeezes lightly.
Though Tyler isn’t watching us, I see him tighten his grip on the neck of his beer and grin at the wine Robert suggested. Wine won’t get me drunk enough to get through this night, getting sick tomorrow be damned.
“No, I’d like a Jack and Coke and four shots of vodka to get this night started!”
Robert tilts his head, studying me, and I give him a sweet smile. “It’s been a long week.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Be right back.” He presses his lips to my cheek, and I smile before he walks off.
“Here, I’ll sit next to Tyler so you and Robert can sit together.” Katie moves and scoots close to him. He rests his arm on the back of the booth, and she happily notices.
Those drinks need to get here stat.
Katie and Tyler continue chatting while I wait for Robert to return. They talk about high school and his time in the military. It’s not hard to eavesdrop, but as soon as Robert sits down next to me with our drinks, they stop.
“Shots!” I say, passing around the vodka. The four of us take them, and I slam my glass on the table before grabbing my Jack and Coke.
“Whoa.” Katie chuckles. “Save room for the margaritas.”
“Oh, you know I will.” I wink.
After a while, Robert and I excuse ourselves to play a round of pool. When we first started dating, he taught me all the rules and always kicks my ass. Tonight, I don’t care about winning, I just want to let loose.
“You’re actually getting better,” he teases.
“Or maybe you’re getting worse?” I mock.
“I highly doubt that.” He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his chest.
“You could be a gentleman and let me win once in a while.” I smile up at him, the alcohol streaming through my veins, and cup his face. Our lips crash together roughly, but before things get too heated, he puts space between us.
“Gemma, we’re in public in a bar,” he hisses and releases me, then walks around the pool table to call his shot. He doesn’t like PDA because it’s not “professional,” but why can’t he relax for just one night? It’s not like I’m some random chick. I’m his fiancée.
Needing a refill, I head to the bar and order two strawberry margaritas, then bring one back to Katie, who’s laughing at something Tyler said. She thanks me, then I return to Robert and grab my pool stick.
Fuck it. I’m bored and don’t care about this game and purposely sink his ball into the pocket. “Whoopsies.” I shrug, then take down a quarter of my drink, wanting it to take hold quicker.
“Good thing you excel at other things,” Robert says, then takes his turn until he clears the table. His tone isn’t harsh but rather condescending.
Robert continues drinking Grey Goose and Perrier as I sip my margarita. Once our game is over, we go back to the booth and catch up with Katie and Tyler.
“We were just gonna play a round of darts,” Katie tells me as she stands. “Should we play teams?”
I bite down on my lower lip and hesitate before Robert answers. “I’m in. But darling, maybe you should sit this one out?”
Turning, I look at Robert and see he’s serious. What the hell? “I’m fine. I think I can throw a dart.”
He shrugs casually. “Alright, let’s play then.”
We grab the darts and set our drinks on a high top table. Katie goes first, and I watch Tyler stand close to her, whispering in her ear and giving her pointers. She does as he says and throws a bull’s-eye on the first try.
Her arms go up, and she squeals, then Tyler gives her a high-five. I go next and line up my shot with Robert on my right and Tyler on my left. Either the alcohol is hitting me harder or I’m imagining things, but the air is so tense I can almost feel the thickness against my hand as I throw the dart.
I don’t hit the center, but I don’t miss either, so I call that a win. I throw two more, then move