“Okay. Let’s knock those out. How about this weekend? We’ll start with Pikes Peak. That sounds fun.”

“This is our last night together, remember?”

“Not at all,” he said.

I rolled my eyes and then tried to find something interesting on the dance floor. There were several sights to choose from. I saw a father-and-daughter couple … at least that was what I’d thought until he tried to give her vertical mouth-to-mouth. A man was attempting to get rejected by every female standing within three feet of the dance floor. A woman in head-to-toe black fringe was two-stepping backward by herself—and quite possibly starring in a Broadway musical playing in her own head.

Taylor pointed at her with the mouth of his bottle. “We call her Cat Woman. She’s just getting warmed up.”

“Who’s we?” I asked.

“Me … and them,” he said, pointing to the two men walking toward us.

Zeke and Dalton were shaking their heads in disbelief.

“Un-fucking-believable,” Zeke said. “I’m disappointed in you, Falyn.”

Both men reached into their pockets, and each one handed Taylor a twenty-dollar bill.

I looked to Taylor. “I was wrong. You’re worse than a cunt rag.”

Zeke looked to Taylor, genuinely concerned. “What’s worse than that?”

Taylor held up his hands, palms out, in surrender even though he was clearly still amused. “Just because I bet them I could get you here doesn’t mean I didn’t want you to come with me. Besides, I can’t pass up a lock bet.”

I shook my head, confused.

“Oh!” Taylor said, even more animated since his friends had arrived. “Can someone write this down? Ivy League does not understand my vernacular!”

“You mean, your verbiage,” I deadpanned.

Dalton’s mouth curved up into a half smile.

Taylor leaned in toward me. He smelled like cologne and cheap body wash with a hint of mint and sweet tobacco on his breath. “A lock bet is pretty much a sure thing.” His voice was low and smooth.

“Yep,” I said, “that’s my cue.” I stood up and headed for the door.

Dalton and Zeke made a fuss, yelling, “Oh!” at the same time.

Within seconds, Taylor’s fingers gently encompassed mine, slowing my progress to a stop.

“You’re right. That was a very douche-like thing for me to say.”

I spun around, crossing my arms. “I can’t really blame a dick for making a dick move.”

Taylor’s jaw flitted under his skin. “I deserved that. I was just screwing with you, Falyn. You haven’t made any part of this easy.”

I glared at him for a moment and then relaxed. “It’s late. I have to work in the morning anyway.”

Disappointment weighed down his shoulders. “C’mon! It’s not that late! And you promised me drinks—plural.”

“Do waters count?”

“Let’s dance.”

“No!” I said so loud and shrill that I surprised even myself.