Dances with Monsters(57)

"Well, if he's waiting on 'my man'," Drew shot back, making quotations with her fingers, "he's going to be waiting a long time since I don't have one." She set their drinks before them.

"Here you go with that shit again," Bunz said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, you mean Heath?" Nik teased, nudging Bunz with her elbow. "Yeah. The whole family is very anxious to meet him tomorrow."

"Yeah, tonight doesn't count," Toni chimed in. "I'll be nice when he gets here but the gloves come off tomorrow."

"Oh, come on, Toni," Drew whined. "You guys seem to forget I'm not seventeen anymore!"

"You will always be the baby," Nik said evenly. "And as your big sisters, we are obligated to torture and torment every guy that's unfortunate enough to fall for you."

"Oh, he's fallen, all right," Bunz said firmly.

"What?" Toni demanded. "What's that mean? Are they sleeping together?" She looked at Drew. "Are you sleeping together?"

"What?" Nik chimed in. She glared at Drew. "When did that happen?"

"No!" Drew insisted, patting the air. "You guys, chill! We're not sleeping together, for God's sake. We've never even kissed."

"Why not?" Bunz exclaimed. "Have you seen those lips? I don't even really like white boys like that, but his lips are off the chain. I'd take some of that."

"B!" Drew exclaimed, laughing at her friend's outrageousness.

"I have to agree with that," Nik added. "He does have amazing lips."

"Oh, I'm sure Vince would be so pleased to hear that," Drew said sarcastically, then realized that her brother-in-law just might, being that he was obsessed with MMA and was a big fan of Heath's.

"He doesn't like the Red Sox, does he?" Toni asked suspiciously. "You know Daddy will not like that."

"I don't know," Drew asked, mystified. "What does that matter?"

"What does that matter?" Nik repeated, amazed. "Are you kidding me?"

"Did you not grow up in the Carnevale household?" Toni added.

Drew waved her hand impatiently. "I know Dad loves the Yankees," she said, "but I just don't think he would let that sway his opinion of some guy—”

"Do you remember David Morelli?" Nik interrupted.

Drew vaguely recalled her oldest sister's high school boyfriend. "I guess," she replied with a shrug. "What the hell does that—”

"We broke up right before prom," Nik said, "because Daddy found out he was a Sox fan. Okay? He's very serious about it."

"Well, I'll be sure to coach him on the acceptable sports teams in the family," Drew retorted.

"Do that," Nik said evenly, sipping her Cosmo with gusto.

"Meanwhile, I believe it's time for another round of shots!" Bunz exclaimed, looking at Drew pointedly. She groaned as her sisters took up the chorus and reluctantly retrieved the bottle of tequila from the shelf and four fresh shot glasses.

"Make it five," Toni called. "You're taking two! One right after the other."

"What are you guys doing to me!" Drew exclaimed, pouring out a fifth shot. She kept two and slid the remaining three toward her sisters and Bunz.

"Wait, us first," Nik said and she, Toni and Bunz quickly downed their tequila. She turned her big brown eyes on her baby sister and smiled mischievously. "All right, Baby Doll. It's all you!"

Drew sighed and quickly downed the two shots quickly, eschewing salt and limes as she gulped down the fiery liquor. She swallowed hard and tried to keep a straight face.

"Hey, Carnevale!" she heard a voice call and glanced over. She felt a slow smile spread over her face as she saw Rex leaning over the bar, grinning at her. Behind him, she saw Jameson, Connor, and Heath. His full lips slowly pulled into a half smile when they locked eyes.

"What is this?" Rex exclaimed. "Drinking on the job?"

"Blame these heathens," Drew said, gesturing toward her sisters and Bunz. "And my boss. They've insisted on sending me out of here with a bang!"

"I don't believe we've met," Rex said smoothly, turning to the other girls. "Rex. Heath's second-in-command."

"Nice to meet you," Toni replied. "I'm the older sister."

"I'm the oldest sister," Nik added, giving Rex's hand a delicate shake.

"And I'm the best friend," Bunz said, taking Rex's proffered hand next.

"Mm," Rex said, smiling at them indulgently. "Such beautiful ladies. Birds of a feather."

"Where's the man of the hour?" Toni demanded, trying to peer around Rex.