My eyes fill with tears, and I sniffle. “I was so worried you were going to hate me and that we wouldn’t be friends anymore.”
“Don’t you dare cry, or I’ll start, and Sam will freak out. I love you, JoJo, you’re a great person, and you make my dad happy. That is all that matters.” I can’t help it. I start to cry, and she walks over to me pulling me into a tight hug.
“Now if you tell me to call you mom than we are going to have problems.” She says in a mockingly stern voice. We both start laughing, and she pulls away from our hug. “Let’s get the birthday girl a drink, of course, I can’t have one, but I will totally shoot an apple juice shot with you.”
She grabs my hand, and we walk over to the bar. Tommy follows us, and when we sit down, he stands behind me putting his lips close to my ear.
“You can have two drinks, Precious, but there's a good possibility that you are carrying my baby so no more than that.”
I feel myself blush. I know it should piss me off that he is telling me what to do, but truth be told, it turns me on. There's something about having such a big, strong man be so protective of me. That gets me all hot and bothered.
“Okay Tommy, but you have to take a shot with me.” Laughing, he kisses the side of my head.
“Deal.” When I look up, Ryder is walking over to us.
“Hey, guys what can I get for you?”
“Muscles, I will take a shot of apple juice, the birthday girl will take a shot of tequila and so will Dad, Sammy wants a Guinness,” Kristy says as she leans over and grabs some peanuts.
We spend the next couple of hours hanging out and finally after Matt and Jules head off to honeymoon, I remember I still have a surprise coming, but I still want to hang out for a little while. After checking my watch and seeing that it’s only nine thirty that solidifies that want. After excusing myself to the restroom and finishing my business, I see Suzy giving herself a pep talk in the mirror.
“What’s up Suzy?” I ask as I reapply my lip gloss.
“Ryder is going to hook up with that Trinity. I just know it.”
“Trinity?”
“Tiffani’s sister.”
“He is not interested in her, and she isn’t interested in him, I assure you. You haven’t seen the way he looks at you have you?”
“Well, no. Are you sure?”
“Trust me. You should go after what you want. If that’s Ryder, I know he won’t be able to resist you. That dress is fucking killer.” She has on a red thigh length dress, with strappy black heels.
“Thanks, JoJo. I am so glad you and Thomas are a thing now.”
“Me too,” I say with a huge smile. She gives me a quick hug, and we step back out into the bar. I stop in my tracks when I see my Tommy chatting up some girl.
The sudden surge of jealousy was not completely unexpected, but I just didn’t expect it to be so gut-wrenching.
Chapter Nine
Thomas
I have been talking to Trish for a few minutes. By talking, I mean trying to extricate myself from this conversation. I see the moment that Josephine comes back from the bathroom.
Her entire face changed. At that moment, Trish decides to rub my forearm. I try to move away from her, but her nails dig into my arms. Shit. This isn’t going to be good. Josephine practically flys over to my side, lacing her fingers with mine.
“Hello, Trish.” She says. The amount of “pissed off” in her voice is evident.
“Hi, Jojo.”
“So, you are up to your old tricks, I see.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Don’t you?”