Page 45 of Face Off

Ryan glanced toward the doorway, then back at me. “We good?” he asked.

The question held only the next four days. I respected that. “We’re good.”

He nodded and reached for the beer list while our friends entered the bar with the careful casualness of people who had absolutely spent the last ten minutes discussing us.

Aura’s gaze moved between Ryan and me before landing on the empty shot glasses. “You started without us?”

I lifted my vodka. “We were breaking the ice.”

Briggs looked at Ryan. “And?”

Ryan glanced at me before answering.

“The ice is broken.”

”

5

Charm

Briggs looked between us with open suspicion while Aura studied the empty shot glasses like they contained forensic evidence.

“You had mezcal without me?” Briggs asked.

“You weren’t invited,” Ryan told him.

“I’m always invited when mezcal is involved. That’s cultural.”

“You’re white and from Michigan.”

“My soul is part Chicano.”

Easton stepped around him and claimed the stool beside Aura before anyone else could reach it. “You contain attention-seeking behavior and several undiagnosed problems.”

Aura slid onto the stool while Easton remained close behind her, one hand settling against the back as he looked over her straightened hair for what had to be the hundredth time since the salon.

“You’re still staring,” she said.

“I’m looking at my girl.”

“You’ve been looking at me since we left Michigan.”

“I’m committed.”

“To becoming irritating?”

“To appreciating the work.”

Aura’s mouth moved despite her attempt to remain unimpressed. “Charm and three stylists did the work.”

Easton looked at me. “Excellent job.”

“I changed her hair. I didn’t build her face.”

“I appreciate that too.”

“Stop speaking to her like she created me,” Aura said.