Page 20 of Alpha Jax

“Hey, Q,” Logan greets, sliding up beside me. “How’s it going?” Ice clinks in his glass, and it looks like he’s sipping on his usual- whiskey and coke.

“Hey Logi!” I reply brightly, winding an arm around his waist to give him a side-hug.

“Ten even, honey,” the bartender behind me says, and Logan steps in to pay. I try to stop him, but he insists, and a few moments later I’m clinking my glass with his and shooting my second tequila shot.

“Quinn, aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Kyla asks, approaching with Shay and Vienna in tow. She’s got a man, so I’m willing to bet that one of the other two put her up to this.

I wipe at my mouth with the back of a hand, the slight burn of the tequila still in my throat. “Sure…” I say, glancing up at Logan. An amused smile tugs at his lips. “This is Logan,” I say, looking back to the girls. “And this is Kyla, Shay, and Vienna.”

“Nice to meet you ladies,” Logan says smoothly, flashing a smile.

Both Shay and Vienna practically start drooling in response, moving closer to Logan to strike up conversation.

Kyla lets out a shriek, startling me for a moment, but I quickly realize that she’s just reacting to Tony sneaking up behind her, tickling her sides. “Hey, baby,” he coos, pulling her back to his front and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“You scared me!” Kyla laughs, swatting at his arms.

Tony isn’t phased- he keeps his arms tight around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head and looking over at me with a grin, raking his eyes up and down my body. “Hey there, Quinn.”

I force a smile. “Tony.”

There’s something about the guy that has always creeped me the fuck out. I turn away, retaking a position at the bar and flagging down the bartender. A couple seconds later, though, that uncomfortable feeling is back as Tony worms his way in beside me right as the bartender approaches. We both order, and as he walks away, Tony pulls out his wallet and slides a twenty onto the bar top.

“I’ve got it,” he says smoothly, tossing me a wink.

I cringe inwardly. “You don’t have to do that.”

He scoots closer, invading my space. “I insist,” he drawls, and I’m completely unprepared when I feel him reach out and trail his fingers up the front of my exposed thigh, tucking up under the hem of my dress.

What in the actual fuck?!

I’m so caught off guard that I can’t even process what’s happening, I just immediately recoil from his touch, jumping away and slamming into the stranger on the other side of me in the process.

“Sorry,” I mumble to said stranger, eyes wide as I search for Kyla. She’s a few feet away, smiling and chatting with Shay, Vienna, and Logan.Notlooking over here.Notseeing what her total creep of a boyfriend just did.

“What’s wrong?” Tony asks, feigning innocence. His face is anything but- he’s wearing a wicked smirk.

Later, I’ll wish I reacted differently in this moment. I’ll wish I told Tony off, or kneed him in the nuts, or threw a drink on him. But right now, my mind’s spinning and I just wanna get the fuck outta here.

The bartender delivers our drinks and while Tony’s distracted, I quickly grab for the tequila shots, holding one in each hand and taking a big step back out of his space. “Thanks for the shots,” I mumble, because yeah, he’s definitely paying for them- it’s the least the guy can do after feeling me up.

I hustle over to where Logan’s standing with the girls, still fucking bewildered by what just happened up at the bar.

“More tequila?” Logan asks, eyeing the shots in my hands.

“You know it.” I step closer, into the safety of Logan’s vicinity.

The girls are still chatting with him, but I don’t hear a word that they say. My mind is absolutely reeling. I knew there was something off about Tony-I always knew it!What he did tonight only confirmed those suspicions. It’s a delicate situation, though. Kyla’s my friend, but Tony’s her boyfriend. She’s crazy about the guy. If I tell her, it’ll steal her happiness… and would she even believe me? It’s my word against his. I know they say not to shoot the messenger, but somehow, the messenger always winds up shouldering some of the blame.

I guess it’s possible that he didn’t mean anything by it? I mean, Tony has always had boundary issues. He’s always been a little too complimentary and allowed his gaze to linger on me a little too long. Maybe he was just trying to be friendly?

But then he comes over, sliding an arm around Kyla and looking over at me with that ugly smirk on his face and I’m done giving him the benefit of the doubt. Dude’s a creep. I should trust my instincts on this one and steer clear of him… but do I tell Kyla, or let it go?

I raise one of the tequila shots to my lips, downing it. Then the other. I enjoy the burn of the liquor in my throat. I should move to set the empty glasses down on the bar, but I don’t want to leave Logan’s side right now. I’ve still got the heebie jeebies from Tony trying to fucking touch me.

It’s like Logan can somehow sense my discomfort because he slides an arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side. My body relaxes slightly, but I could sure go for another tequila shot right about now.

The twins stroll over to join us- they broke away when we arrived to find Gray and Theo. As they approach, Fallon holds up her empty glass and shakes around the ice inside. “Anyone need one? My man’s buying.”

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