Wrong Question, Right Answer (The Bourbon Street Boys #3) - Elle Casey Page 0,3

life, so it’s tempting to say he’s like a brother, but I can’t do that. When we were kids, we got stupid and kissed once, so I could never see him like I do Thibault.

Lucky and I never repeated that mistake, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about it from time to time. Now is one of those moments. He looks especially good in that black leather jacket, with his hair all messed up and hanging in his face. When he broods like I think he’s doing now, I can’t stop thinking about what might be bothering him. I’ve always been drawn to the darker side of things.

May interrupts my wandering memories by grabbing me in a hug. “You’re early! Oh, and you smell good! Like cherries.”

I shrug inside her embrace and finish off my drink over her encircling arm, picking out and crunching down on the cherry that had been floating in the ice. Danny always gives me extra; he said once he was hoping they’d sweeten me up eventually.

“I had to get my tea on,” I say. “Couldn’t wait for you guys all night.”

When May finally releases me, Ozzie gives me a fist bump and my brother reaches over to pinch my cheek.

“Uh-oh. She’s drinking Long Island iced teas,” Thibault says.

I jab him with the toe of my boot. “Shut up.”

Ozzie takes a credit card out of his wallet and taps it on the bartop. “Drinks are on me tonight. Got a nice bonus.” He lifts a hand to signal Danny, who gives him a nod in response. Ozzie is well known here, just like the rest of the team. Whenever we finish a case, this is where we celebrate. It’s where we’ve been coming since all of us were way too young to drink. They have several pool tables in the back and pretty decent music. The crowd is mixed, locals and tourists, Skip being of the latter crowd. He’s trying to pretend he doesn’t see us down here.

Ha, asshole. Told you I was meeting someone.

“Hey,” Lucky says, taking the stool next to mine and glancing over at me before scoping out the liquor bottles lined up behind the bar. He’s squinting, but I know he’s got eagle-eye vision.

“Hey, yourself.” I look away. There’s something going on with him. Usually he’s full of smiles and comments that put people at ease, but tonight he seems single-minded, maybe even depressed. But I’m not interested in figuring out the puzzle that is Lucky; not tonight, anyway. There are at least two more teas waiting for me and a celebration I plan to fully enjoy, especially now that it’s Ozzie’s credit card picking up the tab. If something’s really going on with Lucky, he’ll act weird tomorrow too, and I’ll ask him what’s up then. Delving into it now when I’m getting my drink on could get complicated.

I’m not known for my self-restraint when under the influence, and I am definitely going under tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve really let my hair down. Almost five years, actually. The anniversary of the last night I wasn’t thinking clearly is approaching, bringing with it a lot of really messed-up memories. I could stand to forget a few of them tonight.

I raise my glass to my friends. “To he who falls first!” I finish off my second cocktail with a heavy dose of slurping through the straw. Time to get this party started, yo.

CHAPTER TWO

I’m three cocktails in when I realize it’s just Lucky and me at the bar. I look around the room, squinting. “Where’d those assholes go?”

Lucky doesn’t look at me when he answers. “They’re in the back room playing pool.” He’s hunched over a beer, his shoulders up around his ears, his leather jacket still on. He’s staring at the label on his bottle like he’s trying to memorize it.

In the back room? “They left without asking me to play?”

“They did ask you, but after you told them to fuck off, they left.”

I spin around and jab him with my elbow. “I did not.”

“Yes, you did.” He turns and looks at me. “Your memory is crap when you’re drinking.”

I glare at him. “You looking for trouble?”

The edge of his mouth quirks up in a sad half-smile. “Maybe.”

I shove him away from me, knowing he’s just playing and not seriously flirting with me. Lucky is the king of charm, the hottest guy God ever created, and he knows it. He’s not a heartbreaker, generally speaking, but he