Page 60 of Rooster

"All this doesn't seem a little toxic?" I ask, honestly wanting to know where their heads are at.

The women laugh harder.

"When you've been married as long as we have, you have to find ways to have a little fun," Emmalyn says.

"Plus," Misty begins, stepping in even closer. "It keeps things alive in the bedroom, if you know what I mean."

"I want the record to reflect that Dustin and I have never had problems keeping our bedroom alive," Khloe interjects.

"Neither have we," Misty says, waving her hand between herself and Emmalyn. "It's just fun."

"I don't think that Ellis would find it very funny," Kaylee says, the beginning of a scowl on her face. "I don't want to start a fight."

"Why not?" Emmalyn challenges. "They're the most fun when they're riled up."

I huff a laugh, wondering if that's actually true. Maybe it is for people who have found their soulmates.

Kaylee still shakes her head. "I don't want him to leave me."

The other three women grow serious immediately.

"That man isn't going anywhere," Emmalyn tells her as she clasps my friend's hands.

"He's literally obsessed with you," Khloe adds.

"He's a good man, Kaylee," Misty says. "He'd never give you up over something so trivial."

"He might spank your ass for thinking it's a great idea, though," Khloe says as she looks over her shoulder at her husband. "At least that's what I'm hoping to get."

We all laugh at her antics as we look toward the group of men.

I don't know Robert enough to fully understand the look on his face, but if I were a betting woman, I'd say it was some form of a challenge. I just don't know what the stakes are.

Chapter 22

Rooster

The women across the room are very animated and chatty. If I didn't know any better, I'd think they'd all been friends for years rather than just having met Morgan and Kaylee.

They keep looking in this direction and giggling, each one looking at their man as if none of the rest of us even exist.

I can't help but smile at how light and happy they all seem. Then I meet Morgan's eyes, and I can see that she’s assessing me for some reason. I want to step forward and go to her, to ask her what her thoughts are, but I don't.

"Are we really going to let this happen?" Shadow mutters as he watches his wife.

"Are you actually willing to tell your wife no?" Kincaid challenges. "I've been with Em for over thirty years, and I can't recall a single time I've been able to tell her no."

"If she were in danger, you'd put limitations on it," Kid says. His smile is different. It's as if he's already made plans on how to deal with their request to go watch a bunch of strippers.

"I can't think of a way watching a strip show is dangerous," Kincaid mutters as if he has run the scenarios through his head and doesn't like that he can't come up with a good reason to halt the idea completely.

"Dangerous for the guys on stage," Shadow mutters.

Forced laughter circles the group.

"What do you think?" Shadow asks Heathen.

My friend shrugs.

---