I dressed in ripped skinny jeans and boots.. a cute graphic tee stating ‘my life is mine, but I’d consider a trade’.. I got Matthew in bed and kissed Alice’s cheek.. I grabbed my leather jacket and headed to The Lair to meet Trish and the guys for her birthday.

I was actually having a good time. I don’t go out. Being a single mother I have focused only on being successful.. building a life for my son. Trish and I were on the dance floor and I was trying to teach her to twerk.. Girl got no bootie! It was hysterical already downing my third drink had me thinking it was hilarious!

I took a bathroom break and swung past the bar to order a round for the table.. And sitting on a stool next to the drink station was that same young Alpha from my restaurant. I smiled and my drunk ass decided I should speak “Thank you for your note! I appreciated it, but know I am used to dealing with silly little debutant asses like your mate on a regular basis”

FUCK!

“I am so sorry… alcohol lips! And I would apologize for insulting your mate.. but I’m not really sorry and I’m not a hypocrite.” He burst into laughter and said “Well fuck! Tell me how you really feel!” And we laughed together.

I invited him to join the party and he told me he would love to.. as soon as his Beta, Dalton arrived. And I skipped back over, letting the guys know an alpha and beta would be joining us soon… explaining how I met him. Eddie raised an eyebrow and I said “Fuck off! You know I’m not a dick chaser so don’t look at me like that!” And we all laughed as Trish said “I’m a dick chasing champion.. and I’ll chase dick ‘til the cows come home!” Because Blake and Dalton chose that very moment to sit down at our table.. with Dalton grinning at Trish saying “Well, hello there darlin’!” I lost it at her face! I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my stool, had Blake not caught me!

Blake asked what prompted that whole conversation and Eddie filled him in. We found out Blake’s pack was Bear Creek Pack.. and this town was part of his territory, as well as the Lair being owned by the pack. His mate’s name is Crystalline. Not Crystal.. and certainly not Crys. And I mumbled “Because ‘Bitchface’ isn’t allowed on a birth certificate and Brandon said “Out loud thoughts again, Jo!” Fuck! I jump up and grab Trish “Let’s dance!” As the table cracks up!

We got back to the table to another round of drinks and we decided to play ‘never have I ever’ Trish started with never have I ever stole a car and I was the only one who drank. Eddie said “you stole a car?’ I muttered “On accident! It wasn’t my fault! It looked just like mine! And I brought it back as soon as a little girl in the back seat informed me I was not her mommy!” The table cracked up! When it was my turn I said never have I ever had sex in a bathroom. And everyone at the table drank. I laughed “You bunch a whores!” And Trish said “aww honey.. you’ve barely had missionary sex.. so it’s best you don’t play those questions” and I flipped her off! Bitch! Hang my dirty panties out there for the world to see! And Brandon said “Laundry, sweetie, not panties..and again.. Out Loud thoughts”

I said “ I seriously need to see somebody about that!” And Eddie said “a therapist can’t fix it!” And they laughed. Blake asked what we all do and Trish told him she is a coach at the primary school.. and the guys are warrior trainers. Dalton asked if none of us have mates and drunk Trish, apparently, is not my friend says “Jolene had one.. the rest of us.. not yet!” And the thirty second delay on her brain kicked in and her eyes got huge “I Am So Fucking Sorry, Honey! Please forgive me!!?” I shrugged.. because, not for nothing.. I was drunk enough to not care “Hey! No harm, no foul! We’re all friends, right!?”

A little later, I was saying my goodbyes and gathering my things, when Blake asked to walk me out. I said sure and turned to walk out the door. The air hit me smack in the face.. then realized I may have had one too many. I laughed “I’mma walk over there and have a few cups of coffee until I’m sober!” pointing to a diner across the street. And he asked if I minded if he joined me. I shrugged mumbling a sexy as fuck man asking to have coffee and he’s mated. The Goddess hates me.

He started laughing and said “That’s a real issue for you, isn’t it?” I looked at him, asking “What!? Fuck me! I said it out loud. Yeah.. but believe it or not.. it’s better than it used to be! I can mostly control it around Matthew” Sitting down, he asks “Matthew?” And I nod.. because talking about my monkeybutt is my favorite thing to do “My 15 month old toddler. He already repeats ‘Fuck’ at random intervals and Alice smacks me with wooden spoons and shit for it!” He laughs and says “So you have a Matthew AND an Alice? You are becoming more and more interesting!” I just shrug and order pancakes and a pot of coffee.

He smiles and says “Tell me about your used-to-be mate and how you ended up here.. if it’s not too personal” and I think.. why the hell not!? I’m not ashamed of my past, and it’s not like I’ll ever see him again, right!? So, I tell him everything.. ending with “After the king and queen broke the mate bond, I felt alive again.. and moved to Mountain Pine to start over. And here we are!” He sat there just looking at me for so long, I asked if there was something on my face. He laughed and said “I have never met anyone like you! Life gave you a shit ton of lemons and you make lemonade for the neighborhood.” I cracked up “Fuck that! I made limoncello mojitos and threw a party!” And he laughed again!

We said our good nights and I went home. It was a good night and I had had a good time! Which was really nice for a change and I realized.. I can still have fun.. I’m not even twenty yet! My whole life awaits