Page 39 of JoJo

“I told you about what happened to MiMi when the WRs had her, right?”

Steel’s face screwed up in an angry mask then. “He think she’s not good enough for him because some assholes violated her?”

I put my hand on his chest, over his heart, and smiled sweetly at the man. I admired how fiercely protective he could be of people he felt needed a champion. “No, honey. Nothing like that. Paul wants him to go slow, or not go there at all. MiMi is scared to take a step in that direction, and while her reasoning is closer in line to what you were thinking, she’s wrong. She’s hesitant because she doesn’t feel worthy, and that has kept him at bay too. I think there was a time when he thought maybe she just wasn’t into him at all.”

Steel chuckled. “You know what the biggest problem in our two clubs is?”

“Alpha Asshole Attitudes,” I answered knowingly with a shake of my head while Steel doubled over laughing.

“Alpha Asshole Attitudes,” he repeated as his laughter died down. “I’m going to start calling Sweet ‘Triple A’ and see what happens.”

“You’ll get your ass kicked,” came an answer from the man himself as he stood stiffly behind Steel. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or what though. “What’s the problem with the clubs though? I’d love to hear it.” There was a slight edge to his voice, but other than that he didn’t allow what I thought was irritation to bubble over.

“Communication.” Steel spoke the one word and I watched all the stiffness melt from Sweet’s body as he let out a breath.

“That’s a fact, brother.” He clapped Steel on the shoulder and then turned to me. “How have you been, JoJo?”

“Outside of the occasional pukefest I’ve been just grand,” I answered honestly. He nodded his head.

“You should go see Angel Girl sometime soon.” Sweet drew a hand down his face, rubbing through the almost-beard his stubble had grown into. “I don’t like thinking I fucked shit up with you and the club.” He glanced between Steel and myself then before continuing on. “I apologized to Steel already, but I owe you one too. I’m sorry for stepping in and meddling where I had no business to. My own shit-storm being what it was at the time made me think I knew what was best. I’m man enough to admit I was wrong.”

“Thank you, I accept your apology.” I turned to walk back to the bar to get rid of the glass my juice had been in before I drained it, but Sweet’s hand capturing my elbow stopped me. I turned and glanced up at him. “What?”

“I really hope you take my advice and go see Angel. I want the two of you to work your shit out.”

I had to swallow back my own anger then. So much for apologizing for meddling in one part of my life while attempting to do it again in another. “Sweet,” I tipped my chin down at his hand, which he promptly removed from my arm. “I don’t mean this in a bad way, but you need to hear what I’m telling you.” He managed a quick nod to let me know he was listening. “When I’m owed an apology it isn’t my job to go collect it. I put pride, anger, and hurt feelings aside to go welcome the three of you home. Anything further isn’t on me or up to me. Do you understand?”

I watched as his shoulders slumped a bit then. “She’s so stubborn sometimes. I was hoping I could talk sense into you instead. Not to mention she’s busy with the club and the baby, and all she can see through her exhaustion is that you abandoned the club when they needed you.”

I laughed then. “I abandoned the club when they needed me? That’s rich!”

“I’m not saying that’s the case, but there’s no reasoning with her right now. You’d think she was dealing with the baby blues and shit.” I could tell he was frustrated, but her issues really weren’t my problem since she’d made it clear that we weren’t exactly the friends I once thought we were.

I laughed then. Not at Jamie, but at him having to deal with the situation he’d put them in. “Maybe she’s pregnant too,” Steel chimed in.

“She can’t,” I started to say at the same time Sweet did. Then he stopped and we both looked at each other. “Do you think it’s possible?” I finally asked.

I didn’t get an answer because Sweet was out the door and gone. “Well, hell.” Steel chuckled. “My woman’s just runnin’ ‘em off left and right tonight.”

“Shut up,” I hissed at him.

“Nuh-uh. This is great. If we ever just want to clear a room I can send you in ten minutes before the rest of us and the problem will resolve itself.”

“You’re a jerk,” I laughed as I playfully slapped his arm. “They’re not running from me.”

“Sure, babe. Keep telling yourself that, and maybe one day it will be true.” My husband was itching to get his smart ass kicked. It was a good thing he amused me.

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