I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Emery’s POV

Gia and I were drunk. Not cute tipsy. Not even “a little buzzed.”

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No, we were fully in that dangerous, giggly stage where everything was funny, words came out wrong, and our bodies had stopped cooperating with basic instructions. I was slouched in my chair, one arm wrapped around my stomach because laughing hurt at this point, while Gia was half folded over the tale, shoulders shaking.

“I’m telling you,” she said, pointing at me with a finger that couldn’t stay straight, “that fishhh had an attitood.”

I stared at her for a second and burst out laughing all over again. It didn’t have attitood, Gia. It was dead.”

“That’s rude,” she said, offended on behalf of the fish. “You don’t know his life.”

“His life was over, babe.”

That sent both of us into another fit of laughter. Gia actually slapped the table, and I leaned back in my seat, head tipping toward the ceiling as I laughed so hard tears blurred my vision.

“Oh my God,” I wheezed. “Why are we like this?”

Gia lifted her empty glass and squinted into it like it had betrayed her by being empty. “Because…” she said slowly, very seriously, “we are women of depth.”

I choked. “Depth?”

“Yes.” She nodded once, proud of herself. “And glamour.”

“You can’t even say glamour.”

“I jusht did.”

“No, you said glamurr.”

Gia narrowed her eyes at me. Or tried to. One eye was definitely doing more work than the other. “You are very judgy for a woman who just called the bartender ‘sir captain man.””

“He looked official.”

“He had nachos.”

“Hey, no discrimination of jobs…That is still very much a job.”

Gia lost it again, laughing into her hand.

I was still giggling when my eyes drifted toward the entrance,

Then a big, wide smile.

“Declan.”

Gia’s whole face lit up at the sound of her boyfriend’s name. She whipped around so fast I thought she might fall off the stool. But then her smile dropped. Her brows pinched,

“That’s not… Declan,” she said slowly, blinking hard. “That’s Rhy

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Chapter 173

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I squinted at the man standing there like squinting would somehow turn him into someone else. Tall, broad, familiar.

Then I laughed. “Right. He’s right here.”

Gia turned back to me and barked out a laugh. “Why are you squinting? You can clearly see him.”

She pointed at her, deeply amused. “You said right in one sentersh.”

“Two sentences, G,” I corrected, though my words felt like they were slurring all over each other. “How did you pass high school again?”

“My looks,” Gia said proudly, pressing a hand to her chest.

That made me snort. Then, because alcohol had clearly disconnected me from dignity, I lifted my hand and waved way too enthusiastically.

“Hiiiii, Rhys,” I called, my voice louder than it needed to be.

Rhys stood in front of us, looking calm in that unfairly put-together way some people just naturally are. His mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh.

“Hey, Em.”

Gia leaned forward, propping her chin in her palm. “How did you find us?”

Rhys lifted a brow. “You called?”

Gia blinked. “I did?”

She grabbed her phone with both hands, squinting down at the screen like it was written in ancient runes.

Then her eyes widened. “Oh shit. Butt call.”

I laughed so hard I nearly slid off my seat.

Rhys shook his head, smiling now. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

“Noooo,” Gia whined, pushing herself dramatically to her feet.

She stood there for exactly one second before slamming both hands on the table for balance.

“I’m fine,” she declared.

Then she froze, one hand flying to her mouth.

A beat passed.

“I’m not dru…” she started, then swallowed hard. “Okay. I am drink.” She looked up at Rhys and lifted both arms. “Pick me up.”

Rhys laughed under his breath and did exactly that, sliding one arm behind her back and the other under her knees like this was not the first time he’d dealt with Drunk Gia, Gia immediatel curled into him like a smug little cat, then lifted her head.

“Wait,” she said, eyes finding me, “What about Em?”

“It’s fine,” I said, waving them off with far more confidence than felt. “I’ll just book a ride home.”

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