Gabriel shrugged. "I could have said no. Is close to play-offs." With less than a week until the Magpies played, any publicist could have easily spun it, assuming that his non-presence was even questioned. "I made my choice, now I must live with it." That was the way of the world.
"Shots?" Gabriel raised his eyebrows. He felt strangely impressed by the suggestion, not to mention endeared. "Perhaps one. But not tequila." He never drank it in shots and, besides, that reminded him too much of Lonna. "Vodka, yes?" Gabriel nodded at the drink that Tracey was holding, certain that must be her spirit of choice tonight. "Vodka," he decided and ordered two shots before he could change his mind. "Too late to back out now."