Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(54)

“Now for the hardest part,” Jane said, looking for Brad.

The stairs.

A few drinks later the girls settled around a table with a fresh round. Lump had cooled off and was back to indifference on the whole affair. She was never angry for long. We filled in Flem and Claire both of which would have loved to see the whole thing.

Flem, straightforward as always, asked, "So... what did he say that pissed you off?"

Lump shook her head with a scowl. "Asshole. I was just trying to help, right? I was just trying to cool the whole thing down and move on."

We nodded empathetically. Yes of course. Naturally you weren't trying to control him. Obviously.

"So, I tried to tell him I already handled the situation. It was over. He could go back upstairs."

"Em hmmm. Yup," we said in unison. Yes of course you would try to tell him that he was useless in that situation. That wouldn’t piss him off in the slightest. Perfect sense.

"But he wouldn't move. I didn't want to make a scene and force him or anything..."

More nods. Basically, you tried until you realized he was way stronger than he looked, and you couldn’t move him. Got it.

"Then he said..." She paused. I could tell it really pissed her off. She rarely cared when someone talked trash to her, but this might stay with her for a while. Adam was shaping up to be a good match of wills for our little Lump, but I hoped they wouldn't hate each other too much; it’d really dampen our weekend.

"Ass." She put her hands on her hips. "He told me to stop smothering him with my maxi pad!" She shook her head angrily and huffed. It was such a chick response! The tom-boy was driven right out of her with this one.

Also a sexiest comment, but that was for later contemplation! We were loving it! Our Lump was a girl after all. Maybe even a feminist. How cute.

I said so. I got a glare.

We all started laughing.

That was, until Adam came over and asked if we wanted to join their table. Everyone fell silent, daggers replacing eyes. We had to pick a side, and of course we would pick Lump’s for another few minutes. You had to back up your gal.

Rather than backing down from five females with ninja throwing stars for personalities, which was pretty impressive considering Brad happened to be walking by at the same time, caught our glowers, and nearly stumbled out of the way, spilling his beer in the process, Adam gave a small smirk and waited on our response. He methodically looked at each of us. He met Lump's gaze last, then laughed.

"Alright ladies, we’re over at the other side if you wanna join us. Candace and Ty showed up finally." He nodded at me and walked away.

Lump resumed her indifferent face and drank her beer.

“Well, at least there are definitely only two of us chasing Adam,” Flem said.

“One. You. I’m after that brown haired one with freckles,” Claire amended.

“Which?” I asked.

“John? From New York?”

I shrugged. No idea. Everyone else did, too. Claire seemed unperturbed. Flem elated.

I said, "It would be rude not to go meet up with Candace. She is glued to Ty these days, but maybe we can wrestle her away."

Everyone nodded, and we climbed out of the booth, except for Claire who caught the edge of the seat with her shoe and tumbled onto the ground, landing flat on her face. I nearly pissed myself I was laughing so hard. Lump was bending over as well. Flem was pointing.

Some random guy hustled over to help Claire up, thinking it some huge accident. Claire, hauled up by her arm from the helpful man, shook herself free, wobbling to a stop against the table.

“Would ya feck off?” she yelled indignantly. “You’re gonna make a scene, like! Sure, I was just testing my sea legs!”

She pushed past him, laughing as hard as we were. Claire was no stranger to falling on her face. Or passing out at the bar. So far, she was keeping up with Adam drink-for-drink. It was probably just about to unravel, though. Adam, too.

In our wake was a bewildered guy half worried Claire was hurt, and half worried he’d done something wrong. We didn’t bother to notice him confusedly wander away to a chorus of male laughter.

We arrived at the booth were Candace was sitting too close to Ty, her hand placidly resting on his leg. When she saw me she beamed.

“Jessica!” she exclaimed, waving.

Adam surveyed our crew, his eyes resting on Lump for a second longer than normal as a smile flickered. He leaned back in mock relaxation.

Lump noticed but paid him no more attention than the unknown next to him. She thoroughly put the issue behind her, and once she was over it, she rarely let it bother her again.

Adam’s smile extinguished. Apparently he was expecting fireworks only to realize someone pissed on his sparklers.

“You all look so pretty!” Candace yelled, getting out of the booth to hug me.

“Holy hell, Jessica,” Ty said, looking at me, then sweeping his eyes across the rest of the girls. “It’s like a forest made entirely of legs and cle**age.”

Flem did a spit take and sprayed champagne cocktail all over Moose and his girlfriend.

“Sorry!” she said, putting her hand on Moose’s shoulder. She gave Moose’s girlfriend another sorry. “It was funny, though.”

“Shots!” I announced. “Candace, you’re coming with us. Ty, you’re not. Flem doesn’t realize your jokes only get worse.”