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“Liquid cocaine,” she says, handing one to each of us “Botto”

We shoot them back without pause, and the woman across from me with the vibrant copper curls shouts an enthusiastic, “Whoo hoo!” before sla the empty shooter on the table when she’s finished

So I’ve never heard plays froether and jue passes at a Bieber show The copper-haired friend sings at the top of her lungs, eyes squeezed tight

I pick up on a few of the words, parsing together that it’s soirl-power anthem

Fitting

Raina , her shiny dark bob swaying in time like a carefree woman in a shampoo commercial

The oldall sorts of ridiculous, having the time of my life, but I’m not quite there yet The shot eet and weak, and underneath e is a bundle of nervous energy If I were back in the city about to go on stage, I’d practice one ofthe adrenaline coursing through me

But there’s soht

“I’ht back,” I tell Ivy before ducking through a crowd of plaid and cowboy boots and lingering passing stares froers

I locate an erab a laht

Tonight’s Specials

THE WHISKEY OUTLAW … Crown Royal, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice This one never disappoints

PETTY REVENGE … Triple sec, tequila, ruo down easy Don’t say we didn’t warn you

THE CASH OUT … Everclear, strawberry grenadine, and Mama Buchanan’s famous lemonade We almost called this one Liquid Amnesia

RHINESTONE COWGIRL … Not Your Mimi’s Moonshine and homemade iced tea If you don’t like it, we’ll happily replace it with a glass of room temp tap water

“What are we drinking tonight?” A man’s voice startles me out of my perusal

Flicking aze up over the menu, e plaid button down cuffed at the elbows, and a sharp, stubble-covered jawline that could cut steel

Cash Buchanan … all grown up, and looking more like his brother than I ever could’ve anticipated Broad shoulders, piercing gaze, chiseled features

“I’ll try the Whiskey Outlaw, please,” I say, pretending his presence doesn’t fazeso hard in my chest it hurts

Our eyes hold for an endless moment before an incredulous smirk spreads across his lips