Until Jinx - Happily Ever Alpha World

“Well, I’ve thought about it,” Sienna hedged, looking undecided.

“It’d be good company for you,” Maddie pointed out. “And they’d warn you if anyone was around while you were working and listening to your bad music.”

“I don’t listen to bad music, you do,” Sienna snapped back, then looked at July. “She’s a huge fan of the Spice Girls, NSync, and she’s a Belieber.”

July choked on the mouthful of her drink she’d been in the process of swallowing, getting Wes’ attention from across the bar as she tried to cough it up again.

“Now look what you’ve done,” Maddie hissed, smacking July on the back to help her.

“She had to know. That’s the sort of thing people should be told before they become friends with you.”

Ignoring the fact she was still pounding July on the back even though she’d stopped coughing, Maddie rolled her eyes. “You’re just being dramatic.”

“Are you really telling me if we were to look at the playlists on your phone, we wouldn’t find at least five songs by each of them?” Sienna challenged, leaning forward. “All of the playlists.”

I couldn’t help it, I had to glance down when I saw a flash of exposed skin out the corner of my eye. The waistband of the jeans Sienna was wearing had gaped open, meaning I had a direct line of sight to the black lace thong she was wearing.

Christ!

“Uh, I think you can stop pounding on my wife’s back now,” Wes said as he finally reached us.

It took a lot of strength and willpower, but I managed to drag my eyes away from what I’d been looking at, to see him looking amused.

“Shit!” Maddie squealed, rubbing where she’d been hitting. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

July’s face was bright red and she was wiping away tears, but I wasn’t sure if they were from the choking, beating, or the fact she was laughing as hard as she was.

“I’m fine,” she wheezed. “Oh God, you’re like the Energizer bunny, girl.”

“Sorry.” Maddie winced and then looked at Sienna suspiciously. “Speaking of batteries…”

Wes gave me a look that just screamed, what the fuck? But I was as lost as he was.

“We were?” July asked, glancing around the table, and looking confused.

Grabbing her purse from the table, Maddie waved with her hand at Sienna. “Will you accompany me to the bathroom, please?”

“But I don’t need to go,” Sienna mumbled. “July, why don’t you—”

“Oh, we can’t pull her away from Wes. She hasn’t seen him all night.”

July blinked, then held her hand up. “Actually, I—”

“No, no, we insist, don’t we, Sienna?” I swear Maddie was daring her with her eyes to say no.

Ignoring her best friend, Sienna jumped and clicked her fingers. “See, July wants to go with you.”

“I do?” July asked Wes, almost like she was begging him to explain what was going on, but he just shrugged and continued chuckling.

“Ah, that means she doesn’t, and women always go to the bathroom in pairs. As my best friend, it’s your legal duty to accompany me.” Maddie crossed her arms and glared down at Sienna.

“Why is that?” Wes asked, pulling my attention away from the showdown to see he’d directed the question at me. “Men don’t go with each other because it’d be weird.”

“Get up!” Maddie snapped before I could answer him.

Before it could get any more heated, I held my hand up and whistled. “Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t all three of you go to the bathroom together?”

Maddie jerked her jaw to the side while she thought about it, and then she gave one big nod. “Okay, both of you, get your asses up. Time’s a-wasting. Chop-chop.”

Giving me a look that was a cross between irritated and resigned, Sienna smiled apologetically. “Could I get out, please?”

Winking at her, I slid out and stood next to Wes, then we watched as all three women got out and did some sort of clothing adjustment.

“Why do women do that?” I murmured, leaning closer to Wes so he could hear me. “They’re just going to have to do it again once they’re done in the bathroom.”

“Advice, man,” he said quietly. “Never question what a woman does, just nod your head and say ‘yes, dear.’” Catching July’s arm as she passed, he bent down and whispered something in her ear and then listened intently as she said something back to him. “Yes, dear.”

“Smartass.”

Once they were gone, we both sat on the edge of the benches and looked around the bar.

“Good turnout, Jinx.”

It had to be said, our get-togethers were never small by any means, but tonight had been better than any of them.

“I think it makes a difference having it here so the guys who want to join can meet everyone away from the clubhouse. It’s like they let their hair down and relax a bit more than they would there.”