Oral Care

Chapter 27: Don't be Mad

*** Evelyn's POV ***

Meagan: Don't be mad.

Rafael: So things didn't go as planned. Don't be upset.

Miguel: You're going to be so pissed.

"What the hell?" I mutter when I read my text messages from the past hour. We had a meeting run late with an inspector. Good news, we passed. Bad news, we are across town during rush hour and apparently something is going on that everyone thinks I'm going to hate. Great.

"Do you want to grab a drink rather than fight traffic?" My co-worker, Rick, asks, snapping my attention back.

"Nah. I have a friend in from out of town that I need to get back for. Raincheck?" I respond.

"Sure thing." Rick agrees with a tight smile. I know Rick doesn't have a real great home life and often avoids it by either burying himself in work or hitting the bar.

"You can join us if you want." I offer him.

"That's very kind of you, Evelyn. I don't want to intrude." He insists.

"Well it's not just the two of us so you wouldn't be intruding. Rafael will be there." I try to entice him. He seemed to get along well with Rafael when they met. Rick is kind of an outsider compared to my other co-workers. I chalk it up to his complicated home life.

"Alright. Twist my arm." He laughs.

We are already an hour late and with traffic on the way there, we are pushing two by the time we walk into the bar.

And there it is. The scenario that precipitated the series of texts.

Meagan is perched on the end of a pool table flanked by Christian and Liam. I can tell by the way she is fondling the cue stick that she is tipsy and flirting indiscriminately. It might have been innocent fun until Joel walks up right between her legs and tilts his beer to her lips. She sips and gazes at him with fiery intent.

"Are those Rafael's brothers? The family resemblance is uncanny." Rick wonders.

"Yep." I snip. This explains why Miguel texted. He knows that I have limited patience for Meagan's uninhibited flirting when she gets drunk. I hate that she becomes a cliché.

And I am not pleased that it involves Rafael's brothers, either. I warned her. But I guess at least Kevin isn't in the mix. I think he feels a bit left behind with Rafael and me getting more serious. It's why I didn't want Rafael pushing him together with Meagan. I know how she can be. Kevin needs something more sincere and stable.

But then I see that somehow he hasn't escaped it. He is at the dartboard with Rafael, looking longingly at Meagan who is immersed in the attention she is getting from the oldest and younger Baumann brothers.

Now I understand Rafael's comment. Kevin isn't supposed to be here. I explained my rationale to him. And I even warned Meagan off. While I hoped that she would heed my warning, her text suggests otherwise.

"Bestie!" She shrilly cries when she finally lifts her head from the testosterone fog around her. She hops down and throws her arms around me. She slurs in my ear. "Don't kill me. These boys are HOT!"