queso cheese on the side, and another pitcher.”
She writes it down before looking at Preston. “That sounds good,” he says. “I’ll have the same but give me 12 wings with fire sauce.” He hands over his menu as the waitress looks at Calvin.
He grows quiet as he studies the menu before finally ordering. “I’ll just take a salad with any low-fat dressing you have. Also, I’d like it topped with low-fat shredded cheese. No bacon bits or croutons.”
I can’t help the way my mouth drops open by his healthy order. He looks at me, amused. “What?”
“We’re at a freaking sports bar. You’re supposed to order beer, wings, burgers, or anything fried, and you order the healthiest salad on the menu?” I ask, making Preston laugh.
Calvin rolls his eyes. “You two are going to die in your 50s, whereas I’ll still be kicking till I’m 90. Then we’ll see who ordered correctly.”
I wave my hand through the air and sit back in my chair.
Preston leans in and whispers in my ear. “We might die sooner but I know who’s going to have more fun.”
I smirk at his statement and Calvin rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue. Probably because he knows it’s true.
“How’s the new office going, Calvin?” I ask, wanting to distract myself from these boys.
He offers up a smile. “Everything is great. We’re staying busy. How’s your job?”
I cock my head to the side. “Where do I work, Calvin?”
He looks nervous. He’s never once asked me about my job. “Uhh, some magazine, right?”
I scoff. “Yes, I work for a magazine and it’s great. Thanks for asking.”
Preston laughs and shakes his head. “She’s been there for a year, man. You still don’t know where she works?”
He shrugs. “There are a ton of magazines out there and I don’t read any of them. So no, I’m not up-to-date on magazines. Forgive me.”
I pick up my glass and take another swig. “It’s fine, Calvin. It’s not like we really keep in touch anymore anyway.”
He opens his mouth to say something but quickly snaps it closed when the waitress is back with another pitcher. Preston pours the almost-empty one into our glasses and hands it over so she can set down the fresh beer.
“Where we going after this?” I ask, taking a drink.
Preston shrugs. “Bar?”
I smile and nod while Calvin looks a little annoyed that he agreed to join this gang of miscreants.
“Boomers? We can fight to the death with a game of shuffleboard!” Preston and I always go head-to-head in a game of shuffleboard. “Calvin, you down?” I ask.
He presses his lips together tightly, thinking it over. “I don’t know. I’m more of a darts man.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be a stick-in-the-mud.”
“All right, fine,” he agrees. “I’ll take winner.”
“Yes!” I softly cheer, doing a little dance in my seat.
The waitress brings over our food and I immediately dig in, running a fry through the cheese and popping it into my mouth. The delicious taste has me wiggling in my seat once again with a little happy dance. Both the guys laugh and shake their heads at me.
“I wish I could be that happy with just food,” Preston says.
Calvin snorts. “Clearly, she’s had too much to drink today, Preston.”
Preston laughs and waves him off. “She’s fine. I’ve been with her the whole time.”
I nod as I pick up another fry. “It’s true, Cal. Even after he spiked a volleyball at my face! Which reminds me . . .”
“Oh shit. I thought you forgot,” Preston breathes out.
I giggle. “Get ready to have some fun, Cal, cause Preston is all mine tonight.”
Calvin laughs. “Please tell me you two aren’t still doing that royal servant shit?”
“Oh, we’re doing it. Too bad I didn’t remember sooner. You’d be having nothing but wieners for dinner, Pres.”
He silently chuckles beside me as he picks up a wing and tosses it into his mouth.
My mind is already spinning through the possibilities. Tonight’s bar trip will be epic. Now, how can I punish Preston?
Five
CALVIN
Piper fucking Montgomery. God, if you only knew all the dirty thoughts I’ve had about my little brother’s best friend, you’d probably think I was some kind of pervert. I mean, who’s not attracted to this woman—other than my dumbass brother? She’s absolutely gorgeous with her long honey-blonde hair that’s always done up perfectly in soft curls. She’s tall—nearly as tall as I am—and she’s thin while having all the soft curves a man craves. She’s funny and smart and fun, and I know her in a way that