I picked up my beer and took a sip. There were a variety of ways I could react. I could bristle, toss my beer at him, and call him out for being a sexist pig. No, that would likely make my new coworkers think I was oversensitive and had a temper. I could laugh, as if he were funny, which he wasn’t, and pretend it was all a big joke. Nope, I was not that good of an actress. I figured my best strategy was to take the passive offensive. Bullies hate that.

“Wow, as I mentioned, those days are long over for me, but you seem to know an awful lot about table dancing, Carson,” I said. My voice came out a little higher than normal, and I added a hair toss and a beaming smile to my next words, you know, to keep it friendly, when I added, “Why don’t you show us how it’s done.”

I spread my arms wide, indicating that the table was all his. I glanced at our coworkers and with a hearty laugh asked, “Who wants to see Carson twerk for his beer?”

Trent and Christian hooted and slapped the table. Nyah laughed and clapped, and said, “Yeah, come on, that would be hilarious!”

My gaze held Carson’s. I had outmaneuvered him and he knew it. He glowered. I batted my eyelashes. He tossed back his beer in one gulp and stood. Forcing his mouth into a toothless smile, he pulled a wad of bills out of his pocket, peeled off a ten, and tossed it on the table.

“Maybe next time,” he said. “I’ve gotta bounce.”

The others booed good-naturedly as he left, but I didn’t, and when I scanned the table, I noticed Booker didn’t either. Instead, he held up his beer to me and said, “Well played.”

I clinked my glass with his, and as my gaze held his, I knew I wasn’t the only one who got a hinky feeling from Carson West.

Luz and Shanna returned with the water. Shanna didn’t seem to notice that Carson had already departed, but I watched Luz survey the area and visibly relax. When her gaze met Booker’s, he jerked his head toward the door. I suspected he was letting her know that Carson had left. Interesting.

I switched over to water. It helped until someone ordered a round of shots, more beer, and more appetizers. It was only ten o’clock when I left happy hour but it felt like midnight. Nyah had a ride share picking everyone up, and she insisted I join them.