for the girls ... and the gulf of mexico

They hurried inside, out of the chilly night air, found a table close to the stage. “Feels mighty damned good to be finished, don’t it, Gus?” Isabel grinned. “I’m out! I’m out! Yay!”

Laughing, August nodded. “Yep. My sentiments, exactly.”

Cate sighed. “Well, enjoy the feeling, ladies. You’ll forget it soon enough. About a week after you start working.”

“Quiet. Lemme have one night of bliss. Tomorrow you can remind me about responsibility.” Isabel hooked an arm through Reese’s. “And you’re buying all my drinks, tonight, right?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Okay. Should take about three Colorado Bulldogs. That should get me well and truly plastered.”

Matt frowned. “Only three? Damn. That wouldn’t even get me buzzed.” The frown became a smirk. “Weakling. Get her some tequila, Reese.”

“Nope. I'll be right back.”

August set her hands on the table, rose. “I'll go with you.”

Grabbing her hand, Matt studied it, then raised his eyes to hers. “Where’s your ring?”

She glanced down at their hands, feigned guilt. “Oh. Sorry.” Her eyes met his. “Took it off to shower and was in such a hurry to get ready, I just forgot to put it back on.” She drew her hand away, stuck it in her pocket.

“Hmm.” He shrugged. “Okay.”

“You want a Shiner?” When he nodded, she headed for the bar.

“I’ll go with you, Gus,” Cate said. After they had ordered their drinks and Reese had taken Isabel hers, she asked, “Where is it, August? You never take it off.”

“The Gulf of Mexico.”

Cate’s eyes narrowed. “The Gulf of…”

“Mexico.”

“What’s it doing there?”

August grabbed two of the three beers the bartender set before them. “I threw it away, Catie. Didn’t want it anymore. Threw everything he gave me away. And you’re not to say a thing to him about it.” She turned, made her way back to their table. “Here. You’re buying next round.”

“Can’t you be like Reese and buy all our drinks tonight?”

“Nope.”

He sighed, took a pull on his beer, then glanced at Reese. “Pool?”

“Okay.” Rising, Reese pressed a quick kiss on Isabel’s mouth. “Be right back. I have to go get my ass kicked.”

With a chuckle, Isabel watched them saunter off to the rear of the bar, where the pool tables where. She tapped her nails on the table, sipped her drink.

“You’re not gonna get drunk that way, Isa,” Cate said. “And since I’ve never--”

“We’ve,” August corrected.

Cate nodded. “Since we’ve never seen you drunk, we’ve kinda been looking forward to seeing just how you are when you do get that way.”

“Never been drunk. So I couldn’t even tell you how I am when I get that way.”

“All the more reason to show us tonight.” August toyed with the bottle, turned it, studied the label. “And my leaving in three days is another good reason.” She gestured to Isabel's glass. “Drink up.”

“Geez. I can’t believe yall are this eager to see me plowed.”

“Your boy shouldn’t’ve volunteered for driving detail. And I can appreciate a good buzz as well as Gus Gus over there.” She raised her own bottle, tilted it and clinked the neck of it against her friend’s nearly empty bottle.

“You do have a point,” she said, as she removed the straw, downed about half of the glass’ contents then licked her lips. “I do like these. Kinda like chocolate milk with an extra kick of yum. And today is most definitely a red letter day.”

August smiled. “Indeed.”

(c) twenty-ten. jennifer k. griffin, otherwise known as c.c. this publication is the exclusive property of c.c. and is protected under the united states copyright act of nineteen seventy-six and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. the contents of this post, and any other c.c.-crafted picky post for that matter, may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without c.c.'s consent. all rights reserved. in other words, steal this, and i will follow you to the depths of hell and the edge of forever and kick your puny, thieving ass. thanks. :] 

read about the gang: august, cate, isa, reese and seth.


this was a matlock project. learn about that here.