Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(57)

My favorite bouncer rushed past, dragging someone out. Another group shot past him, yelling and screaming. More people fighting on the dance floor.

“This is a shit show,” I reflected, still to no one in particular. “But I gotta go home.”

“Wait for Jillie, Wess,” Lump mumbled into the table top.

“Why does no one else call him William?” I asked, sitting back down because the exit was blocked by another fight, this time with Adam and Ty in the thick of it.

“Because of how his eyes get all soft when you say it,” Flem said from the floor. “It’s gross. Also, it seems like that name is reserved just for you. Everyone says he is over-the-moon about you, you know. That he is totally pu**y whipped, and doesn’t care.”

“Hog wash.” I dropped my head to the table with a thunk. “He gives as good as he gets.”

“They think you rule the roast.”

“Roast?” Lump said, raising her head. “Do you have food? I’m hungry.”

“They don’t blame him, though, from what I’ve heard,” Flem continued. She was talking to herself at this stage. Or just talking because she forgot to shut up. “Fools. But you’re good. You’re a good friend. Probably a great girlfriend to him. Willie sees it. We see it. Still, y’all are gross.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I need to go home.”

I stood up again. I needed my purse. Purse had cab money.

William. Shit. I needed to grab him, too.

I stumbled off toward the far stairs in search of my hand bag, only to be stopped by two giant paws.

“Hands off Daniel-son, or my drunk friend Lump will kick you,” I yelled at the guy blocking my way.

“Jessica, where you goin’?”

I pointed at the floor. “Oh, hello, Adam. I see you wore your old ass boots for a night out. Not that I’m commenting. I need my handbag, my William, and my bed. Drunk.”

“Okay, we’ll grab those things. Willie is just wrapping things up. You gotta go sit down with the rest of the gir—oh shit. Now, where the hell are they goin’?”

“Potty mouth.” I turned.

Lump and Flem, leaning on each other again, were heading for the door. Home.

“Those bitches!”

“Jess, are you alright?”

It was Moose with a scratch on his cheek.

“No! Those whores are planning to just walk out of here without my expensive handbags! Last time they borrow from me, I will tell you that!”

“Moose, round up them girls and get ‘em to the booth,” Adam said. “Get that girl Lump to organize it. She’s drunk, but she’ll get everyone set. I’ll get this one. Willie will hang us if something happens to her.”

“I am not a freaking piece of luggage Adam!” I yelled.

The last thing I heard, before Adam scooped me up, was Moose chortling with laughter. Ass!

Chapter Twelve

Some indiscriminate amount of time later, Lump and I were walking through the packed bar on our way out of the club. Before then, all the girls, Moose’s included, had been sitting, or in Claire’s case sleeping, at the booth where Moose, Adam and Ty put us. We were not allowed alcohol, for which I was thankful and Jane was pissed, but were given more water than our bladders could hold. Our jail sentence consisted of drinking water and making trips to the bathroom. It wasn’t very fun, but we were too drunk to do anything about it.

When we were given the green light by a bouncer to head outside to meet the boys, we stumbled our way through the still crowded club. All I heard on our way was, "I keep tellin'em we gotta get more bouncers! An older crowd used to come to this club and there weren't no trouble. With the remodel and this younger crowd, though, fulla piss 'n vinegar, this done keep happenin'. Soon no one’ll want to come here no more!" The bouncer shook his head angrily.

The cold bite of the evening air was a welcomed relief to the hot bar we were leaving. It cleared the head somewhat. I was still mighty drunk, but manageable. I wanted William, my warm bed, and sleep.

Maybe drunken sex. We’d see.

I was first outside, Lump right next to me, the rest behind. The bouncer let us out the door and told us it was a pleasure. We waved as we walked, not caring. A second later Lump was grabbed from the right. All I saw were two hands reaching for her before she whirled around with her arms doing very confusing things, then stepping back to me after the other person’s presence was gone and their weight thrown off in the opposite direction.

A second later a stunned, yet frustrated, Adam stepped back toward us. He probably made a mental note to stop touching Lump all together.

Candace rushed to him, Jane and Claire after, and Flem was looking all around her like she suddenly landed on the moon.

“You know,” she was slurring, “the Texas I remember was much safer, with more reputable guys. But then, I wasn’t this hot.” She chuckled to herself. “Good thing L.A. has a bunch of pansies.”

“Flem, are you ready or what?” Jane shouted.

“Sorry. I was reflecting.”

“Well reflect your drunk arse ‘tis way. I want out of this fecking place!” Claire shouted.

“Adam, where’s William?” I asked too loudly.

“He is talkin’ to the manager. There is the bill to settle, plus he is putting in a complaint. Doubt we’ll come here again.”