Page 66 of Shameless

“The one in the coupe glasses for you, Lula. Those are mocktails.” The man sounds apologetic. “And for you, Stefan. The mayor, the sheriff and pretty much everyone important in town is here today, so we’ve been instructed to be particularly vigilant about serving minors.”

Stefan and I look at each other and I grab a mocktail with a resigned sigh. A drink would have definitely taken the edge off my jitters today.

“Cheers,” Crew grins, grabbing a cocktail and taking a sip.

“Way to rub it in that you’re twenty-one, dude.” Stefan scowls.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure by tonight, everyone will be intoxicated enough that we’ll be able to sneak you a couple of drinks. Maybe even a bottle of champagne to share.”

The heat in his blue eyes causes my pulse to quicken. I remember the last time the three of us shared champagne.

“Hey guys. Lula,” Jules’s voice forces me to get my mind out of the gutter, but it’s short lived because my stepbrother looks as hot as sin in a short sleeved button down that matches the dark blue of his eyes and a pair of shorts that draw attention to his long, muscular legs.

Jules isn’t alone though, he’s accompanied by his ex-wife Jasmine and a dark haired little girl in a tank top with a mermaid on it and cute pink shorts.

He’s holding the little girl’s hand and, before addressing her, he winks at me. “Jenna, I want you to meet Daddy’s best friend in the entire world. This is Lula. Luls, this is my main squeeze, Jenna.”

The little girl giggles. “It tickles when you squeeze me, Daddy.” Then she sets her bright blue eyes on me. “Hi, I’m Jenna. I like your name. Lula.”

She offers me her tiny hand to shake and I swear she’s absolutely adorable.

“I think Jenna is a very pretty name too,” I offer. “And I love the mermaid on your top.”

Jenna beams with pride, looking down at the mermaid on her tank. “Daddy just bought me this. If you’re good, he can buy you one too.”

I don’t get the chance to respond to Jenna’s offer because, in typical three year old fashion, Jules’s daughter’s attention is attracted by Napoleon in my arms.

“I like your puppy. What’s his name?”

“This is Napoleon.”

Jenna extends her hand in the attempt to pet Napoleon, but gets yanked back by her mother. “Don’t touch that mutt. I bet it has fucking fleas.”

As if on cue, Napoleon snarls at Jasmine.

“Oh my goodness,” Jasmine jumps back, her eyes as wide as saucers. “That mutt should be put down.”

“That’s what I said too. He already nipped me once.”

A shudder of terror mixed with disgust works its way through me as Evan’s voice reaches me from behind.

Crew is swift in wrapping a protective arm around me, before Evan comes into view. “Napoleon is absolutely fine. He just strongly dislikes creeps and foul language. Which explains why he nipped you,” he says to Evan. “And why he just gave Jasmine a warning growl.”

Jasmine doesn’t back down easily. “I don’t give two shits what your mutt likes and dislikes. If he’s aggressive, he shouldn’t be allowed in the club. Jules, will you kick him out or do I have to ask Arianna?”

Jules’s response isn’t what his ex expected. “Napoleon might be an acquired taste, but he’s fine and he would never bite Jenna. You on the other hand, might want to watch your mouth. Especially around our daughter.”

Jasmine’s eyes narrow into two furious slits. “Are you seriously taking that dog’s side over the mother of your child? Stuff like this is why we didn’t work out, Jules.”

Jules’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “No, the reason why we didn’t work out is that you gave our neighbor much more than a cup of sugar.”

“Fuck you, Jules!” Jasmine snaps. “If you hadn’t been a distracted, absent husband, I wouldn’t have had to look for my needs to be met elsewhere.”

Evan chuckles, his eyes roving over Jasmine in a sleazy once over. “I knew there was a reason why I didn’t like you. You’re a moron if you let a knockout like this get away.”

Jasmine’s eyes gleam with interest. “Finally someone who isn’t blind. I’m Jasmine. You are?”

Horror grips my insides as I watch Evan take the hand Jasmine is offering him and bringing her knuckles to his lips.

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