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“Beer run?” Dex asks.
“See ya,” Finn says by way of agreement.
I cackle as they practically trip over each other fleeing the room.
36
Nathan
“Damn, Dawn. You’re wearing the shit out of that suit.”
Cigar in her hand, Dawn takes a twirl, showing off her sharp, navy-blue three-piece suit tailored to hug her slim figure. “I’m James’s best woman, I had to bring my A-game tonight.” She sits down at my table and tosses a coaster on the barrel table before setting her drink down. She’s even drinking like the boys tonight.
“How’d I do?” I ask.
“On the bachelor party? Phenomenal. On keeping your dad somewhat sober? Big fail.”
Dad’s loud laughter bellows from across the room. He discarded his suit jacket somewhere. His face is tomato red and sweaty. There’s ashes on his dress shirt from his latest cigar. He looks sloppy. And happy.
“When do the strippers get here?” Dawn asks.
Palm to the ceiling, I point at her. “Isn’t that why you’re here? Get back in your giant cake so I can roll you out for a proper grand entrance.”
She raises her hand like she’s about to backhand me. “Why, I oughtta,” she says through a girl-like giggle. Ah, Dawn’s drunk too. Everyone seems to be having a good time. Except me.
“Out of respect for Julia, there will be no dancers tonight. Just all of Dad’s favorite things—bourbon, cigars, and a lot of old rich bastards.” We golfed eighteen holes earlier this afternoon. Not my sport. I sat around in the golf cart with a beer, fighting the urge to text Spencer.
Another howl of laughter comes from my dad. I’m disturbed when I see the comedian causing his outburst.Casey.I really did like the guy until the charity event. Spencer’s into him. I can feel it.
“What’s wrong?” Dawn follows my gaze, trying to determine the sudden change in my demeanor.
“Casey’s objectively a good-looking guy, right?”
“If you find gargoyles attractive, I guess.”
“Someone’s claws are out. What’d he do to you?”
Dawn rolls her eyes. “Best to keep my mouth shut. He’s currently your dad’s favorite pet.” She grabs her glass and throws the rest of her drink back in one glug. She exhales with her mouth open, trying to soothe the burn.
“I’ve been dethroned,” I mutter.
Dawn’s lips curl into a sly smile. “You don’t make a good pet. You talk back too much.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I pull two cigars out of my inside coat pocket before shrugging off my suit jacket. “Put that out.” I nod to her cigar. She douses it in a crystal ashtray before taking one of mine.
“What is this?”
“Gurkha Black Dragons. They cost over a grand apiece. I was saving one for Dad, but I can’t get him away from his puppy.”
Dawn runs the cigar under her nose. “His loss.”
I chuckle. “I brought more. It’s all I’m indulging in tonight.”
Dawn shoots me a sideways glance. “You’re not drinking?”
I shake my head. Before I know it, I’m glaring in Casey’s direction again. “I don’t trust my temper tonight. Alcohol won’t help things.”
“She told you.” Dawn exhales deeply.