Page 118 of The Main Event

“This is not your party.” I flashed a flat smile. “It’s my party. We have a DJ, drinks, and endless fun.”

“This is fun?” Delilah arched an eyebrow as she looked around. “Who knew?”

I was determined that they wouldn’t force me into a situation where I said something rude. They were playing a very specific game. I could play that game with the best of them. After all, I ran Sweet Sixteen parties. Who did they think they were dealing with?

“What would you like to drink?” A plan was already forming in my mind. “You look like jalapeño martini people to me.”

Jared visibly blanched. “Um … I tend to drink my whiskey straight.”

“Oh, no.” I fervently shook my head. “We can’t have that. It’s a Halloween party. You’re here to celebrate with your son, right? You need jalapeño martinis to start. I won’t settle for anything less.” I kept my sweet smile in place and didn’t allow them to argue with me. Instead, I headed straight for Levi. “I need you to make the strongest and hottest jalapeño martinis you’ve ever made,” I said to him. “I want them to feel as if parts of them are on fire for days.”

Levi arched an eyebrow. “That’s a specific request.” He glanced at the table where I’d settled Jax’s parents. “Who are they?”

I told him, watching with grim satisfaction as disgust settled over his face. “So, we want jalapeño martinis that make lava come out of their butts tomorrow. I get it.”

“I don’t know if I would’ve phrased it exactly that way,” I hedged. “That’s what I want, though.”

Levi grinned as he set about making the drinks. He was intent on his task. When he was finished, he handed them over with a flourish. “They’re going to hate their lives tomorrow.”

“Good.” I turned to return to the table and pulled up short when I saw an angel talking with the devils. Tammy stood in front of Jared and Delilah, her hands moving a mile a minute as she talked, but something struck me as odd about the interaction. “She seems awfully chummy with Jax’s parents, doesn’t she?” I asked.

Levi followed my gaze. “Kind of. She doesn’t act as if she’s unfamiliar with them. I wonder what that’s about.”

I was about to find out. “Keep an eye on Jax. He’s tracking down some errant cousins and uncles. He’ll herd them in this direction.”

“Do you want me to set their bowels on fire too?”

“Yes. That would be delightful.”

“You’ve got it. Just be careful, Daisy. Those people fight their wars differently than we do.”

“That’s why they’ll never see me coming.” I sent him a grim smile. “I won’t let them hurt Jax.”

“Daisy, I’m not sure you can stop him from getting hurt,” Levi countered. “You can be there to make things better for him, though. That’s all he wants from you.”

“I’m going to be there for him. I’m going to make these people pay, too.”

“Well, as long as you have a plan.”

“Oh, I definitely do.” My fake smile was firmly in place as I returned to the table. “Here you go.” I placed the martinis in front of them. “These are our signature party drink. I think you’re going to love them.”

Tammy shot me a sidelong look. “There’s a signature party drink?”

“There is,” I confirmed. “You should have Levi make you one. I’m sure he would be thrilled.”

“Huh.”

“I’m not much of a martini person,” Delilah hedged.

“But it’s our signature drink.” I feigned sadness. “You can’t not have the signature drink.” My lower lip made an appearance. “That’s just way too sad.”

Delilah made a sighing sound. “Fine.” She lifted the glass dubiously, but when I refused to look away, she sipped.

Jared, who was bound by the rules of the society peeps he loved to spend all his time with, followed suit.

They started sputtering in tandem.

“Quite the kick, huh?” I prodded. “It’s one of those drinks only the strong can tolerate.” I said it on purpose to challenge Jared. “If you think it’s too much, I can get you something else.”

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