“Yep,” she agrees, then asks, “How was Cobi when you left the house tonight?”

“Mad, but then again, he’s been mad since yesterday.” I smile. “Though I kind of like him mad, so there’s that.”

“I bet.” She grins, and I grin back.

“I don’t know if I’m cut out for this,” July states, plopping down next to Brie and me in our booth.

“You either, huh?” December questions.

“I didn’t even want to come at all, but when Wes told me I wasn’t quote-unquote allowed to, I had to come to prove a point that he’s not my boss.” She looks around and cringes when she sees a guy’s erection not far from her face. “I don’t think this is worth the fight I’m sure Wes and I are going to have tonight when I get home.”

I feel for her, because I’m sure I will be having that same fight with Cobi. I just hope angry sex with him is worth it. Who am I kidding? All sex with Cobi is awesome.

“This is insane,” Ashlyn says, shoving her way through two women to get to us, holding a bottle of water in her hand that she obviously got from the bar across the room. “Seriously, you’d think these women have never seen a dick before.”

“I think the point is they need to see a dick,” April chimes in from above us, and I tip my head back to look at her. “Not everyone here is getting laid regularly like you all are.”

Having met April a few times, her bluntness doesn’t surprise me anymore. It’s so odd, having met all of Cobi’s family, just how different everyone is, yet how accepting everyone is of each other. Like December and April—they’re sisters, but couldn’t be more opposite. Where December is reserved and shy, April is aggressive and forward to the extreme, yet you know when you see them interact that they love each other.

“I really think I might need to leave. I’m starting to get claustrophobic,” December states, moving away from one of the guys when he starts to dance close to her. “And I think I’ve seen enough penises tonight to last me a lifetime. Actually, I think I might need therapy before I ever willingly look at a penis again.”

“I wouldn’t mind getting out of here either,” I say to December, and her eyes fill with relief.

“You guys can’t go,” Willow—who planned this whole fiasco—states, looking at each of us. “We just got here and it’s still early.”

“We’re not far from downtown. What if we catch a cab to Broadway and hit some of the bars?” I suggest, really hoping they all say yes.

“I’m good with that,” December says, smiling at me.

“Oh all right,” Willow gives in. “But I’m going to see if my friend Curtis can get us on one of the party bikes.”

“Do you mean those carts you have to pedal while drinking?” I ask for confirmation, and she nods while pulling out her phone.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” July says, and Willow glances up from her phone.

“Why not?”

“What happens when all of us get too drunk to pedal?”

“Don’t worry about that. It will be fun.”

“Famous last words,” Brie inserts, and I look at her and smile.

“All set, Curtis has a bike for us.” Willow stands.

April, who hasn’t been in on the conversation, frowns at us as we all stand. “We’re leaving already?”

“We’re going down to Broadway.”

“Cool, then.” She leads all of us through the crowd and out the door of the club. When we get outside, we get two cabs and head for Broadway. After that, the night is mostly a blur of pretending to pedal, drinking too much, and laughing so hard my stomach hurts.

_______________

I wake up slightly disoriented, and groan when I hear Cobi chuckle and feel the bed move with the sound. What could he possibly think is funny when my head is pounding and my stomach is twisting is anyone’s guess.

“I’m guessing from that sound you don’t feel so good.”

“Please don’t talk.” I pull my pillow over my head to try to block him and the light seeping through my eyelids out.

“You won’t feel better until you get some food in your stomach and take something for your head.”

Even the mention of food makes my stomach roll. “I’m good. I just need to sleep.”

“It’s three in the afternoon. You’ve been asleep since I picked you up last night and put you in my truck.”

Wait what? I don’t remember that. I pull the pillow away and look at him. “You picked me up last night?”

“You called and said you were ready to come home and have angry sex.”

Okay. Apparently, I shouldn’t drink so much ever again, because I don’t remember doing that.

“Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Anytime, baby.” He touches his lips to mine.

“You seem okay,” I observe.

“Do you mean I don’t seem pissed?” he asks with a grin, and I nod. “I’m not mad. I know you guys didn’t stay in the club long. I also know you were having fun after you left, so it’s all good.”

I frown. “You know we didn’t stay long? How do you know that?” I question.

“I have my ways.”

My frown gets deeper. “Did you follow us?” He shrugs and I sit up. “Seriously?”

“With shit that’s gone down recently, I needed to make sure you were okay.”

“But following us?”

“Did I intrude?” No, he didn’t, but still.... “No, I let you do your thing and kept an eye on you from a distance. You didn’t even know I was around.”

“Your insanity knows no bounds,” I whisper, looking into his eyes.

“You’re mine to protect and to take care of.”

“I like how you make being insane seem so rational.” I roll my eyes then cover my face when the action hurts my head.

“Go get in the shower. I’ll make you something to eat and get you some pills.” He kisses the top of my head then gets off the bed.

“Just so you know, when I’m not feeling like I might die, we’re going to continue this conversation.”

“Just so you know, everything I do, crazy or not, is because I love you, baby, with everything I am.”

My body gets warm and my heart melts. “Don’t be sweet when I’m annoyed with you.”

“Get your beautiful ass up so I can feed you,” he orders.

My eyes move over him and I sigh. He looks way too hot wearing just a pair of black running bottoms and nothing else.

I want to say something sassy in return, but nothing comes to mind, so I just pick up one of the pillows from the bed next to me and toss it in his direction. It doesn’t even come close to hitting him, and he laughs as he leaves the room. Maxim wanders in the open door, and when he sees I’m up sitting on the bed, he jumps up next to me and licks the side of my face.

“Hey, buddy.” I rub his head, and he rests his weight against me, causing me to fall back against the mattress. I laugh, pushing him away so I can get up, and his whole bottom half wobbles and shakes with excitement as he stands on the bed. “I need a shower, big guy. We’ll play after I get out.”

He lets out a loud woof then bounds off the bed and out of the room. I head into the bathroom and go right to the shower, turning it on. When I get to the sink to brush my teeth, I gasp at my appearance. I look ready for Halloween. My hair looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket, my eye makeup is smeared down under my eyes onto my cheeks, my face is pale, and the red lipstick I wore last night is smeared across my mouth.

“Beautiful,” I huff in disbelief, grabbing a wipe to clean the residue of makeup off my face. “He’s so full of it.”

“Talking to yourself is a sign of mental instability.”

I jump in place then glare at Cobi where he’s leaning against the doorjamb, watching me.

“I’m just reminding myself that you truly are crazy.”

“How’s that?” His lip twitches, and he crosses his ankles, then his arms over his chest like he’s settling in for a show.