SWNOVELS Pucking Sweet: Chapter 41
I don’t know what Violet and her friends expected from St. Augustine’s nightlife, but it’s not the freaking Miami strip. We’ve already stumbled our way through the only two bars hosting karaoke tonight, making complete fools of ourselves singing Britney Spears and the Spice Girls. But I don’t think they’ll stop until we’ve sampled the delights of every bar in town.
I crinkle my nose as we step into a little Irish pub. It’s tucked away off the main street, and I can see why. The place smells like day-old fried fish and beer. There’s no music playing, no party lights, and no room to dance. A row of TVs behind the bar play five different sports, including golf.
At least the reception is warm. All the patrons hoot and holler. Some are laughing at us. And, I mean, fair. We look ridiculous. Violet forced me into this beaded bikini top, and I feel naked. I’ve spent half the night adjusting it, worried the girls are peeking out.
Behind me, Lemon trips on the rug, bumping into me and nearly losing her pink cowgirl hat topped with a large pink and purple blinking penis. “Oops! Sorry, Daisy,” she giggles.
“It’s Poppy,” I remind her for the third time.
She strides into the middle of the bar in her white fringed jean shorts and red lace bustier top. Her Cowgirl Barbie look is complete with a pair of blinged-out rhinestone boots.
Okay, the boots are cute.
“Can someone turn the music up in here?” she shouts. “We’ve got a bride to celebrate!”
To my surprise, upbeat dance music fills the bar. The bartender flips a switch and colorful lights shine on a disco ball that slowly starts to spin. It’s no Club 7, but the effect is cute. The other girls rush forward, ready to order drinks and dance.
I turn to Tina. “Set a timer for twenty minutes, and then we’ll make our exit. No need to subject these folks to Bianca’s “Macarena” routine for any longer than necessary.”
She nods, pulling out her phone.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite flavor of sweet treat,” a voice calls from behind me.
My heart leaps into my throat as I grab Tina’s arm. “Oh god.”
She looks from my hand to my face. “Girl, what—”
“You gonna turn around for us, Popsicle?”
Tina glances behind me, her confusion morphing into a wolfish grin. “Well, hello again. You’re Poppy’s devil, right?”
“One of them,” Lukas replies, his tone dripping with steam.
“This one looks familiar too,” she says, her gaze leveling over my right shoulder.
I turn around, nearly bumping into Colton. He puts a hand on my arm to steady me, the heat of his touch spreading up my arm like wildfire. I glance between them. God help me, they look beautiful. Popsicle is right because I’m about to melt into a puddle on the floor.
Colton holds out a hand to Tina. “Hey, Colton Morrow. I used to play for the Washington Capitals.”
“That’s it,” she says, connecting the dots as she shakes his hand. “You and your buddies would come into my club.”
“On occasion,” he replies, his gaze shifting right back to me.
My heart is still racing. “What are you two doing here?”
“Oh, just dinner and a game with my best bud,” Lukas replies, draping an arm around Colton’s shoulders. “Kinda like a date night. We would’ve invited you, but you were otherwise engaged.”
Tina is still grinning. “Oh, what the fuck is this?”
“Nothing,” I say, fighting my blush.
“Just a little mating ritual,” Lukas teases. “Let me borrow that boa, and I’ll even shake my tail feathers for ya.”
“Sure.” She slips the pink feathered boa off her neck and wraps it around Lukas.
A few of the other girls notice and start weaving this way. My little champagne bubble of happiness pops. “Oh god.” I grab their hands. “You have to leave. Now.”
As a conflict-avoidant, people-pleasing double Libra, there are many things in life I can tolerate with a smile on my face. For example, I’m wearing this skimpy Coachella Barbie costume while hosting my bitchy little sister’s bachelorette party to celebrate her shell of a marriage to my terrible ex on my own freaking dime.
What I will not tolerate is Violet and her friends flirting with, dancing up on, or otherwise touching my hockey players.
“Oh, come on, Pop,” Tina calls. “Let ’em stay.”
“Babe, we haven’t paid our bill yet,” Lukas adds.
Colton steps in, a hand on my shoulder. “Poppy, what’s wrong?”
“You have to go. Please. Before my sister gets her hands on you—”
As I say the words, Olivia and Violet saunter up, fruity drinks in hand. “Hey, who invited cocks to this hen party?” Olivia calls out. She’s still in her bedazzled pink jumpsuit as Disco Barbie. Next to her, Violet is wearing a white mini dress with a veil as Bridal Barbie. Olivia settles her hungry gaze on Lukas’s tattoos. “Well, hi there, handsome. Who might you be?”
If she reaches out even one hand to touch him, I’m gonna bite it off.
Sensing my distress, Lukas slips around me, away from her. Wrapping his arms around my shoulders, he pulls me in against his chest. In seconds, this man has neutralized the threat, turning me into a human shield. “I’m Poppy’s boyfriend,” he declares.
Pin freaking drop.
Umm, I feel like I should remember having that conversation, right? Now seems like a terrible moment to ask for clarification because Violet and Olivia look like they’ve just swallowed a handful of sour grapes.
Oooh, I like seeing Olivia Monroe jealous.
Next to her, Violet scoffs. “Yeah, right. If Poppy had a boyfriend, I would know.”
If Poppy had a boyfriend, Poppy would know, right?
I just keep smiling.
The other girls crowd in, chatting and laughing.
“Did I hear Poppy has a boyfriend?” Maggie coos.
“Actually, we’re both her boyfriends,” Lukas clarifies to more excited chatter.
Wait, now Poppy has two boyfriends? How did I miss all this?
“I’m Lukas,” he goes on. “This handsome fella is Cole. Nice to meet you, ladies. Now, which one of you is the blushing bride?”
Oh, he’s smooth. He’s already met Violet once before. Not to mention, we look alike. But he just glances around, pretending like he doesn’t see her standing there in her veil and glittery “Bride” sash.
If there’s one thing my sister can’t stand, it’s being ignored. Her smile flickers in annoyance as she sticks out her hand. “I’m Violet St. James, Poppy’s younger sister. And we’ve met, actually.”
“Right,” he says, shaking her hand. “I guess I forgot what you looked like.”
Olivia snorts into her drink. “Seriously? She looks like a taller, hotter version of Poppy.”
Okay, I’m about to punch this girl right in the cunt.
“It’s fine,” Violet says with a simpering smile. “Names and faces must be tough for how often you get hit in the head, right?”
Lukas tightens his arm around me, keeping me from lunging.
Oblivious to the tension, Chutney leans in. “And she’s wearing the ‘Bride’ sash, silly.”
“Hmm, I didn’t even notice.” He relaxes his arm, stroking his hand up and down the bare skin of my shoulder. Violet watches the movement with narrowed eyes. “Coley, did you see it, bud?”
Colton weaves his fingers in with mine, smiling down at me. “Nope. I only saw Poppy.”
Be still my heart. Is there anything hotter than loyalty? You get that with two boyfriends, right? Even fake ones?
“Wait, are you guys hockey players?”
Perfect. Now Lemon has entered the chat.
“We are indeed,” says Lukas. “What gave us away? Was it my twice-broken nose, or all my fake teeth?”
“It was probably our hockey T-shirts,” Colton teases.
“Or those rockin’ bods,” Giselle calls out.
Several of the girls laugh, clinking their glasses with Giselle.
“Ignore her. She’s drunk,” says Maggie.
“We’re all drunk!”
Lemon still looks confused. “Wait, I thought Poppy said you had a game tonight, and that’s why you couldn’t come party with us.” She looks around, hopeful. “Are there more of you?”
Lukas laughs, kissing my cheek. “Popsicle, did you lie to your sister and her friends so you could keep us all to yourself?”
Violet and Olivia glare at me. A warm feeling of triumph settles in my core as I hold their gazes. Slowly, I lift Colton’s hand to my lips, giving it a gentle kiss. “Yes, I did.”
Lukas laughs again. “Our kitten is a little territorial. But now that you’re all here, we’d love to help the bride celebrate. Next round of drinks is on us.”
The girls all squeal, making both guys jump. A few of them pull out their bingo cards.
“That’s almost a bingo for me,” sings Giselle, waving her card in Olivia’s face.
“Me too,” calls Chutney.
“Hey, ask them if they have a condom,” says Maggie.
“Ask them for their number!”
Giving me one last disdainful look, Olivia points to the bar. “Drinks first, ladies. Let’s leave Perfect Poppy to her pretty boy toys.” She and Violet lead them away, much to my relief.
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again,” Lukas says as they walk off. “Pop, your sister is a witch with a capital ‘B.’”
I sigh, leaning back against his chest. “I know, but she’s family.”
He relaxes his hold on me. “And what’s with the cards?”
“It’s just a stupid game they’re playing.”
“A game we’re playing,” Tina says. “You’re playing too, Pop. Don’t forget.”
“Half the stuff on my card is just doing shots. I’d be under the table in five minutes—and wait—what the heck are you wearing?” I didn’t really get a good look at her before we left the beach house. I was too busy organizing the Ubers. Now that she has the boa off, I can take it all in. “Is that my blazer?” I gasp. “Tina, those are my clothes!”
She throws her head back and laughs. “Took you long enough!” The sneaky bitch raided my closet. She’s wearing my petal pink pencil skirt, a white silky top, and my favorite fuchsia blazer. Her pink hair is curled and styled in a long ponytail.
“Which Barbie are you supposed to be?”
She’s still laughing, eyes alight with mirth. “Duh? I’m you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, I’m PR Barbie.” She strikes a pose with both hands on her hips.
Behind me, Lukas and Colton crack up.
“I want my clothes professionally laundered and returned,” I shout at her. “This is not going to be the Great Ugg Boots Disappearance of ’08!”
Still laughing, she pulls out one of the pink bingo cards. “Here, do us all a favor and help Poppy win this game already.”
“Tina!” I slap at her arm, trying to get the card.
She just laughs, holding it out of my reach. “What? This is, like, the Jumanji of bachelorette parties. It won’t stop until someone wins. With two hot hockey players on your team, you’ll knock out a double bingo in ten minutes flat.”
Colton reaches over me and takes the card.
“What do we get if we win?” Lukas asks. “I’m nothing if not competitive.”
“Holy fuck.” Colton’s eyes blaze as he holds up the card. “You’ve been playing this?”
I huff, crossing my arms. “Please, I did, like, two of the things. I sang karaoke and traded shoes with a lady at the last bar.”
Lukas glances down at my strappy gold gladiator heels. “You traded shoes with a total stranger?”
“Yeah, I was wearing these cute little white go-go boots before. They had a much more sensible heel.”
“But those make you look waaay more fuckable,” Tina teases.
“Facts,” Colton mutters.
“Are you still here?” I say at her.
She just laughs again.
Lukas steals the bingo card from Colton. “So, what kind of game are we playing?” His eyes widen as he scans it. “Dollars?! Double bingo wins five thousand American dollars?”
“Yep,” Tina replies.
“It’s not, like, Monopoly dollars?”
“Olivia’s parents are loaded,” I explain. “Dropping five thousand dollars on Naughty Bachelorette Bingo is like sneezing for her.”
His face lights up. “Oh, we are so winning that double bingo.”
Tina claps her hands. “Yes! Get it, Poppy. Show these snooty bitches how it’s done.”
“We are not playing,” I cry. “Lukas, did you even read half the stuff?”
“Oh, I read the whole thing. Come on.” He grabs my hand and spins me around, pulling me toward the bar. “Coley, let’s go! We gotta strategy sesh this out!”
He weaves us through the dancing bachelorette party girls. Pulling up at the end of the bar, he grabs Colton’s arm and drags him forward too. They box me in, both of them with a hand on my bare back as they lean over me, inspecting the bingo card.
“I wanna do this one and this one,” Lukas says, tapping the card. “Wait—and this one.”
Colton is still just shaking his head. “It’s like you can’t win unless you’re willing to perform a sex act.”
“Why do you think I gave up after trading shoes?” I say. “Guys, I think some of this stuff is technically illegal—”
“Oh, we are so doing this one,” Lukas goes on, tapping the square in the bottom row.
“We’d have to do the rest in that diagonal,” Colton reasons.
“Well, if we combine the dick pic with this one, and the shots with this one, I think we’ll have it,” Lukas says, his tone bright with excitement. “Question.” He raises his hand and turns to me. “Do these all have to be witnessed by someone else in the party? Like, is there a judge?”
I sigh, resigned to my fate. “Olivia is the judge. She’s calling it the Dishonor System.”
His grin spreads. “Oh, Popsicle, we are in for a wild fucking ride. You ready to play?”
I glance to Colton, and he smiles too, giving me a nod of encouragement.
Oh god, what is happening right now? For weeks, their signals have been all over the place. They want me, they tease me, then they make me see stars…then Lukas kicks me out of his hotel room, and Colton nods at me like we’re strangers at the freaking coffee cart! The last time we were all together, they were literally punching each other into the sand at the idea of sharing me. Now they want to play Naughty Bachelorette Bingo? Together?
And don’t even get me started on Lukas’s little “boyfriends” comment. My gossipy sister is going to have a field day with that joke. I’m sure I’ve already missed a call from my mother in pieces over it.
“Come on, Popsicle,” Lukas says, cupping my cheek. “We promise we’ll behave.”
Colton steps in at my back, his hands smoothing over my hips. “You’re overthinking this,” he says in my ear. “I can hear your brain ticking like a bomb.”
“And I think you’re both underthinking it,” I say, fighting the urge to melt against him.
“We’ve thought it through plenty,” he replies, his hands slipping under the beaded fringe on my top. “We’re on the same page now, Poppy. We know what we want.”
Lukas nods, his gaze heated as he watches Colton touch me. Oh god, why does he look so turned on? Both of them are touching me, and I can’t think. Lukas grins, brushing his fingers through my hair. “Come on, baby. Let us show you what good teamwork looks like.”
Colton’s lips brush the shell of my ear. “Play with us.”
Heart in my throat, I nod. “Okay.”
Lukas’s face lights up. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
With that one little word, Colton lowers his face to my neck on a grateful groan, breathing me in like I know he’s been dying to do since the moment I stepped into this bar. His hands hold possessively to my hips.
“Yes,” I say again, arching my neck into the fevered press of his lips. “Play with me. Please.”
Lukas silences my plea with a kiss. Then I’m free-falling into a new world of sensation as two beautiful men kiss me. My body is a live wire. I’m humming with aching need, lost in the feel of their lips and hands on me, warm bodies pressing in.
We’re all trembling as we pull apart. Lukas recovers first. He gives one more glance to the bingo card before he’s dropping my hand. “Right. Coley, trade tops with Poppy.”