Just Jack by Meredith Russell

trunk. Blue sparked in the air as he listened for the familiar chorus echoing within the room. He closed his eyes, losing himself to the cold as he worked. As the song died, Jack opened his eyes. Proudly, he ran his hand over the raised tip.
    Perfect .
     
    * * * * *
     
    “I hate him.” Leo pinched the bridge of his nose with his gloved hand and screwed up his eyes. He blew out a breath and hugged his neat vodka to his chest.
    “I know, honey.” Ruby rested her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it through the thick, warm material of the jacket he’d been handed on entering the ice bar.
    “I mean—” Leo stopped as he leaned forward and the fur blanket he was sitting on slipped, almost sending him flying off the edge of his seat. Ruby had him by the arm as he held up his hands and eased himself back to lean against the cool wall. He laughed. “I am so drunk.”
    Ruby shook her head and took the glass from his hand. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
    Leo grabbed for his drink and broke into a fit of laughter when he fell against her. “Aw, come on. You wanted to cheer me up, and you have.”
    Ruby handed the drink to Nathan and pushed Leo to sit up. “You have a presentation tomorrow.”
    “Yeah, right before lunch or something. Loads of time to sober up.” He held out his hands and pouted. The puppy-dog eyes did the trick as Ruby conceded and handed him back his drink.
    They’d been at the bar for a couple of hours. There had been a lot of bitching, drinking, and laughter. The three of them had moved into the ice bar thirty minutes ago. He’d never been into this part of the club before, but he liked that despite the icy surroundings, he was incredibly toasty, having been given an insulating coat and gloves on entry. He was making the most of the novelty bar, visits limited to forty-five minutes at a time considering the temperature was something close to twenty degrees, or at least that’s what the pink-haired girl on the door had said. And making the most meant vodka, lots of vodka.
    Holding the glass in front of him, Leo tapped the side. The shaped ice was pretty impressive, as was the rest of the beautifully crafted bar. He could only imagine the effort.
    “Do you think anyone has ever licked the bar to see if their tongue will get stuck?” He moistened his lips as he looked at the blocks of ice crafted into a bar. The pink-haired girl had swapped working the cloakroom for the bar and was pouring vodka down a luge in the shape of a ladies heeled shoe into a waiting customer’s mouth.
    “Let’s do that.” Leo elbowed Ruby in the ribs.
    Ruby turned and eyed the man who had successfully caught the chilled shot in his mouth. “As if. You’d just end up wearing it.”
    Leo snorted a laugh. “What? You’re always telling me what a big mouth I have.” He opened his mouth to make a point and waggled his tongue from side to side.
    “Maybe give it a miss this time,” Nathan chimed in.
    “Whose side are you on?” Leo winced at the harshness of his words, but Nathan was supposed to have his back. He was supposed to be helping Leo get over Mac, not siding with Little Miss Party Pooper.
    “The side of sense.” Nathan looked at him pointedly. “You’re trashed, and it’s barely even eight.”
    He wasn’t trashed. Not yet anyway, though it sounded a great idea. “I just need to eat something,” he uttered into his drink.
    “Well, let’s do that.” Ruby crossed her legs as she leaned her shoulder against Nathan’s. “There’s a cute little Italian at the end of the block.”
    Leo smirked. “Shh, I thought we weren’t discussing Antonio in front of Nathan.”
    “What?” Nathan quirked an eyebrow. “I thought it was called Il Tramonto.”
    Ruby pressed her mouth in a line and gave a sweet squeak. She rubbed Nathan’s cheek. “You are so adorable.”
    “Huh?”
    She smiled. “Leo was trying to be funny, but he failed.” Kissing Nathan, she rubbed the tip of her nose against his.