Page 75 of The Scientist
“I really am sorry.” He sounded sincere. “But in my defense, you really are that beautiful.”
I looked at him doubtfully.
“I think I was just trying to find my place with them,” he said, surprising me.
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
“I mean there are times when we hang out that I don’t understand half the things they’re saying. It’s like they’re speaking a different language. I just got excited thinking I would finally have someone on my side that night. Someone who wouldn’t look at me like I was an idiot for not knowing what a presynaptic, astrological krypton cell is.”
I smiled despite myself. “I get it.”
Sometimes they would get deep into conversation about things happening at work or in the science world, and I’d find myself totally lost. It was hard to keep up. But it wasn’t a blow to my ego the same way that it seemed to be to him.
“Anyway, when Stuey stops glaring at me, I’ll apologize to him too.”
I glanced back to see Stuart was indeed glaring at the two of us, but mostly at Merrick. It suddenly occurred to me thatMerrick had been intimidated by Stuart. Not physically, but mentally. Sweet, tiny Stuart made Merrick feel about two feet tall.
“I wouldn’t call him Stuey in that apology if I were you,” I suggested.
“Noted,” he said, chuckling. “So, what’ll it be?”
“Six shots of Patrón, please.”
“You got it,” he said with a wink.
Sarah came over to help grab the shots he had poured for us.
“Well, have a good night,” I said before walking back to the rest of the group.
“Who was that?” she asked as we made our way through the crowd.
“One of Lex’s childhood friends. We’ve hung out a few times.”
“He’s gorgeous.” She was glancing conspiratorially over her shoulder at him. “And he’s staring at you like you’re solely responsible for global warming.” She laughed, nudging me with her elbow. “Or are you too caught up with the scientist to notice?”
I ignored her mention of Lex. I didn’t feel like talking about him after our little spat tonight.
“Obviously he’s hot, but he’s kind of a jerk.” Although now that he laid out his insecurities about the way being around the guys made him feel, I was starting to see the situation differently.
She sighed. “Shame.”
We handed the shots out to everyone when I noticed Stuart still glaring at Merrick. “What’shedoing here?”
“He’s working,” I told him.
“There are plenty of bars in San Francisco.”
“Maybe he was hoping he would run into you,” I said. “Seeing as you two are such good friends.”
“I don’t think it’s me he was hoping to run into,” he spat.
“Let’s kick this bachelorette party off!” Sarah raised her shot glass. “To Emily and Liam!”
“Emily and Liam!” we all said, toasting our glasses together. My eyes watered as the tequila burned its way down my throat. I welcomed it.
We met the rest of the bridal party, including the groom, to whom I was first introduced after he was flung from the mechanical bull. They were all very welcoming and all very drunk.
We bar-hopped over the next few hours but ended up back at the Whiskey Cowboy once the live band started playing. I was worried the guys would feel out of place not knowing anyone, but they were having the most fun out of any of us. At one point, Sarah and I looked on horrified as Stuart drunkenly made out with one of Emily’s bridesmaids. Peter and Dan jumped on stage with the other groomsmen and sang along with the band as they played AC/DC’s“You Shook Me All Night Long.”