Page 126 of Blush

“I’m here. No worries.”

Not that any of them were worried. I’m hardly the party animal they are.

A very good-looking and muscular waiter who’s wearing a bow tie but no shirt saunters up to me. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Sidecar, please.”

“You got it.” He winks.

He has several dollar bills shoved in the waistband of his pants. Is he one of the dancers? Probably not, but apparently some feel the need to tip him in his waistband for bringing them a drink.

Whatever.

Isabella and Gigi are counting out their dollar bills.

“We each brought a hundred,” Gigi says.

“A hundred?” I gasp.

“Yeah,” Frankie says. “You brought loose bills, didn’t you?”

“Uh…I didn’t, actually.”

“Mandy, don’t you know anything?”

“Sure I do. I’ve just been busy. I forgot.”

It’s not a lie. I did forget. And yes, I know you’re supposed to tip when you go to a male revue, but frankly, I can’t waste any money right now.

Frankie pushes a pile of money in front of me. “You can owe me.”

I roll my eyes. “No thanks.”

“Oh, forget it. It’s a gift, okay? You don’t owe me anything. This my bachelorette party, Mandy. Have some freaking fun, why don’t you?”

Fine. Fun.

When the hunk in the bowtie and no shirt comes back with my sidecar, I shove a dollar bill into his waistband, which is actually a lousy tip, because the drinks here are about fifteen bucks a pop. I should be giving him a three dollar tip at least.

Frankie told me ahead of time that the party was already paid for and that I could have as many drinks as I wanted. She’s being a little dense, telling me that, since Isabella, Gigi, and I paid for the whole thing.

Yeah, I’m pretty strapped this month.

I take a sip of my sidecar, savor the sour and sweet.

Then I nod to Hunky Waiter. “Another,” I say.

He nods and smiles. Shimmies his hips a little at me.

I’m going to need at least two drinks to get through this evening.

Chapter Forty-Six

Jackson

After more than a month of no communication with Mandy, I finally broke down. I called Pendleton Berry to find out if maybe he knew what was up with Mandy and Frankie.

Turns out tonight is Frankie’s bachelorette party.