Until Jinx - Happily Ever Alpha World

“But now I’ve made it clear you’re not easy, and I’ve made it very clear you’re both here with me tonight. I also,” he added, steering us toward a table with a reserved sign on it, “said your name twice in a very short space of time, so they know it and will likely be saying it right now. All of that information makes you interesting and memorable.”

When we got to the table, he gestured with his hand for me to take the side that’d put the wall at my back, meaning I could see the rest of the room with no problems.

Narrowing her eyes at him as she slid in on the opposite side, Maddie muttered, “How are you so certain about all of that?”

“Because I have a dick.”

Frowning at me, she mulled over the information. Finally, she came to a decision. “Fine, you’re a clever boy. Thank you!”

Rolling his eyes at me, he motioned with his head toward the bar. “What would you guys like to drink?”

“Pineapple juice?”

“Is that a question or the answer?”

“The answer.”

Nodding, he looked over at Maddie. “Uh, I’ll be a sober sister to keep this one company, too, I think. Could I have the same, please?”

“You don’t have to do that, Mads. Drink if you want to.”

“Nah,” she waved a hand at me. “I had a glass of wine before we left. Plus, I have just as much fun when I’m sober, so we’re good. Pineapple, good sir.”

Grinning widely at me, Jinx left us to go and get the drinks.

Meaning I was free to get the answer to the question she’d unsubtly skipped away from earlier.

“Okay,” I hissed, leaning in closer to her. “Why do you think I’m in trouble?”

She’d been engrossed in staring at the men from outside, so at my question, she jumped and blinked a couple of times. “What? I didn’t say that.”

“You said it outside before we got out of the vehicle. What did you mean?”

“Wow, aren’t you memory woman?” When I didn’t back off and stayed where I was, she huffed out a breath. “Fine, what I meant was, Jinx would rather have plucked drain hair out of every drain in a ten-mile radius and then crocheted a blanket out of them, than tell us any of the examples of why he’s jinxed.”

Glancing quickly at the bar again, she leaned in so that we were about three inches away from each other. “But, knowing you needed to be distracted—which means he’s put himself into your mind because he cares how you feel—he told us anyway. He didn’t get shitty about it and didn’t tell us no when we asked. He just told us some of the stories, and then got out to help you out. Which you ruined by dropping out the door by yourself, by the way.”

“That doesn’t mean anything except that he’s a good guy—which we already knew.”

Giving me a droll look, she reached up and flicked me in the forehead before I could see it coming.

“Don’t be dense. Before we left, he went around doing your checks exactly how you told him to, without even blinking. He even went the extra mile and double-checked the windows, even though he knew you never opened them. And don’t even get me started on what he was like when he arrived and you were away closing curtains.”

“What was he like?” I breathed, looking around us like we were doing something suspicious, when all I was doing was checking he wasn’t near us to hear what she was saying.

“Bajiggidy.”

“Bah-what?”

“You know,” she gestured in circles on either side of her body with her arms, but it didn’t help me make sense of it. “Bajiggidy. Off-center, not relaxed, anxious, eager to see you, constantly looking at the doorway in case you walked in. That kind of bajiggidy.”

This time it was my turn to blink, which was all I did until Maddie had enough and waved her hand in front of my face. “Need me to flick you in the forehead again?”

“Sorry, I’m trying to figure out what that means?”

Sighing and shaking her head, she held her finger up. “Let’s do this the simple way. One, he likes you. Two, he wanted to see you. Three, he didn’t like that you weren’t there. Four, he cares enough to make sure you have peace of mind all the time. Five, he freaking likes you, dumbass. Six, he’s made sure you’re comfortable and feel safe as much as he can.” Stopping, she discreetly looked over at the bar and smiled when she saw something.

“Seven, he even looked out for your best friend because he knows my happiness matters to you. Eight, he keeps turning around to check on you, even though he’s helping out behind the bar while the guy has a smoke break. Nine, he’s also stopped some of them from coming over here at least six times, because he more than likely wants to be here to give you support… Do I need to continue?”