Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(91)

Toward the end of the night I got up to hit the bathroom and Lump followed. We did our business, fixed our hair, and had a few seconds of nothing important before heading back out to join all the men. It was as we were headed toward the table that we heard a commotion.

Lump put the jets on, dragging me behind her. “Stay out of the way if anything happens, Jess,” was all she said.

Sure enough, William had called it. That tool Lump brought was picking a fight with a tipsy Moose.

Everyone was away from the table, leaving all the drinks and what not there. Because I would have no action in this stupid thing, I went for my beer. Which wasn’t there.

Shaking my head, because I still had half a beer left before someone chucked it, I had a few sips of Lump’s vodka-cran instead. Being that it was a fresh drink, someone obviously forgot about me, and now would never hear the end of it.

I took a big gulp and winced. Salty. Yuck. I gave it a stir and took another sip.

No, still gross. It wasn’t worth it.

I thought about sitting down, but thought that might be foolish in case the commotion came over here. Lump was inching toward the action, so I stayed close enough not to be left behind, but far enough away not to be involved.

“Look fella,” Moose was saying with his arms up. “I wasn’t even talking to you. I got no problem with you. Let’s just all relax and go back to what I’m good at, drinkin’!”

“Fuck you, haus. You were talking about my woman, right? Talkin’ about her sweet ass, right?” John yelled for the whole bar to hear. He was in some sort of stance and looking stupid. It was hard to imagine he was the best in the class, because Lump never looked stupid when she was in her “ready” stance.

“I was talking about my girlfriend, and nowhere did the words ‘sweet’ or ‘ass’ come into the conversation. I don’t need your woman, John, I’ve got my own. One woman’s enough, know what I mean?” Moose was smiling and still trying to ease the situation. He was giant, and he could throw a few punches if he wanted to, but he was generally too nice to fight.

William was behind John, looking like he’d rather just throw the littler man out and get back to the table. Adam was between William and Moose with a posture that said he had nowhere to be, but would rather not get involved. As soon as he saw us coming, though, he blocked us from entering the scuffle.

Lump, predictable as she is, said, “Adam, move.”

Adam turned toward her with a careful expression, his hands slightly up like Moose’s were. “Now Betz, I know you want to sort this out. I know you could—I got every faith in you. But if you get involved your...friend there is liable to accidentally hit you--”

Lump opened her mouth to protest but Adam talked over her. “—and you look stunning tonight. You got those shoes that make your outfit.” He half smiled as he said that. “I would hate that beautiful new dress to get ripped or stretched or ruined, or you to break your ankle in those stilts, because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This ain’t no place for a lady, Betz. Please.”

He was being reasonable and logical. Plus, there really wasn’t anything Lump needed to do with all these guys around her. I was on Adam’s side, though my opinion meant nothing because William would personally tie me to a chair if I tried to get involved. He was still way over-protective.

“Adam, just let me talk to him. I will stand next to you and Willie and try to calm him down, okay? If he tries to hit me or anyone else, I promise I will step out of the way. Are you happy with that?”

Adam looked at her for a long moment then nodded reluctantly.

For once, it wasn’t an argument. I think it was taking every ounce of control each of them had, but it was a start.

Lump stepped to the side of Adam with William on her other side. I pushed up behind her where I could see. Since I was behind a wall of people I had no doubt I would be fine. It wasn’t my smartest move.

Adam extended his arm behind Lump and touched the small of her back. She startled at the contact.

“Whoa, girl, just a precaution.” It sounded like he was trying to calm a spooked cow.

Ha! Adam thought of her as a cow!

“You get pushed ‘n those heels are gonna snap as easy as wringing a chicken’s neck. I just wanna make sure to catch you before you fall on Jessie.”

Lump whipped around at the mention of my name. “Jess, get out of--”

“What are you doing to my girlfriend?!” John yelled. He connected eyes with Adam and his face went cockeyed. Lump turned back to the fray, Adam’s arm holding her in place out of reflex.

William stepped closer to Lump to thoroughly block me off and act as another set of arms in case that tool finally found a reason to attack.

I was just trying to see...! I whined to myself.

“Hey man,” Adam said, not removing his hand from behind Lump’s back. “She’s got some pretty dangerous shoes on, and another lady behind her. I don’t want neither of them gettin’ hurt.”

“Why isn’t your hand on the other girl?”

“John, shut up!” Lump said angrily. So much for calmly talking him down.

John turned to her. “Oh, I get it. You like him touching you. I saw you all night looking at him, talking with him, laughing with him. You are cheating on me, right?”

“John, I’m not even together with you. How’m I going to cheat on you? Let’s go outside and talk about this rationally. Why are you trying to start a fight with these guys? They don’t want any drama.”