been through the shit we’ve been through, you can understand why it’s a good idea to have one of the men around. Trouble doesn’t just find us, it follows us around. And to keep us safe, it’s in all of our best interest.”
My eyebrows raise. “So what the hell am I supposed to expect tonight then?”
Skylar shrugs, her lip twitching. “Who knows? Just know we will all have each other’s back and everything will be okay. You’re going to have fun, so don’t even stress. Just a few drinks, and a dance, and we’ll take you to the hottest spots right now. I’m going to pour us some shots of J?ger to get this party started.”
We leave my room and walk to the kitchen, then outside to have a drink before we head out. Skylar puts some music on, and it’s not long before we’re all chatting and laughing. Temper finds us, his eyes coming straight to me and taking me in from head to toe.
“Fuck,” he grits out, and clears his throat. “You look beautiful, Abbie.”
“Thank you,” I reply, and I can feel my cheeks heating. He looks good himself, in a black collared shirt and jeans, and he smells even better. “What are you all dressed up for?”
“I’m coming with you,” he says, grinning devilishly. “Didn’t think I was going to miss out on the fun, did you?”
Skylar’s eyes widen, and she pours herself another shot. “You’ve never voluntarily come out with us. Ever.”
“That’s not true,” he denies, sitting down and pouring himself a drink. “What about in Vegas, Izzy? I went out with you then.”
“Yeah, you did. But I’m pretty sure you sat there on your phone all night, nursing a glass of whiskey and avoiding anyone that tried to talk to you. I remember a few women tried to get your attention and you didn’t as so much as give them a glance.”
He ignores that comment. “I’ll stay off my phone and will try to have a good time.”
Skylar is still staring at him like she’s only just met him, a look of surprise etched on her face. “Who are you?”
When Saint and Renny also walk in, all dressed up to go out, we know exactly what’s going on.
“What happened to a girls’ night?” Skylar asks Saint, scowling. “We didn’t invite you guys. We were expecting Crow to come, and that’s it. Tonight is about Abbie having a good time, not you all marking your territory.” The girls obviously like Crow, because they sound like they would have preferred that.
“We all want Abbie to have a good time too,” Temper replies, sounding offended at the idea that they are coming for any other reason.
“That’s why we’re coming. We’re the life of the party,” Saint adds, grabbing Skylar around the waist and nuzzling her neck. “And Renny is going to drive, so I get to enjoy a drink with you.”
Skylar turns to look at me, and I just shrug. I don’t mind if they come.
Temper comes and sits down next to me, lifting his glass up to cheers with my shot glass. “To Abbie and her first night out with us.”
“To Abbie!” everyone else chimes in, clinking glasses.
And that’s how one very messy night begins.
* * *
“Oh my God, I love this song!” I say, not for the first time, pulling Temper to the middle of the dance floor and spinning around in a circle with my hands raised in the air. After drinking for over an hour at the clubhouse, Renny drove us to two clubs before we ended up here at club number three on drink number God knows what. I don’t know how Renny has been putting up with us all night, with him being sober, but he’s been patient as hell and laughing at all of our antics.
Temper’s hands come around my waist as I grind my hips into a seductive circle, or at least I think that’s what I’m doing. Temper’s not much of a dancer, but he stands where he’s meant to and moves with me, which I think is really cute. This is obviously not his ideal