Page 46 of Fine, Dork

We approached our friends, and I raised both eyebrows when I saw Lyla’s little black dress. “Um, wow. Have you ever worn a dress in your life before this night?”

Lyla shrugged. “A couple of times. Bec likes them.”

“Damn right I do, baby.” Beckett leaned in to kiss her cheek.

Lyla’s gray eyes flitted back and forth between Jaxon and me as we took our seats. She smirked and folded her arms. “I like this. This is good.”

Jaxon lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Thank fucking god. Hear that, K? Lyla approves. She was the one we were worried about.”

Lyla cracked one of her real smiles. “Damn. Kinley must be rubbing off on you. You’re a sarcastic asshole now.”

I laughed and pointed a finger at Lyla’s face. “Don’t blame it on me! He’s always been this way.”

Lyla opened her mouth to say something, then paused when her eyes settled on her wine glass. “Where the hell did all my wine go?” Lyla picked up her half-empty glass and frowned at it.

Beckett shrugged. “I don’t know, baby. I guess you’re a drunk.”

“No fucking way! I had one sip!”

The waiter approached, and we ordered, then Jaxon stood and excused himself to use the bathroom.

Once Jaxon was out of sight, Beckett grinned at me from across the table and took a long slow sip of Lyla’s red wine. “Oh, fuck you, Bec!” Lyla pried the glass from his hand.

“Kinley, Kinley, Kinley.” Beckett leaned forward and gave me the most serious look he’d probably ever given in his life. “Don’t you hurt that beautiful man. He’s not like the rest of us.”

I raised a single eyebrow at Beckett. “I’m sorry, do you think you know him better than I do? When did you two start hanging out? High school, yeah? When I introduced you!” Fuck. Did everyone think I was a screw-up that was going to hurt J? Was I a bad decision that he needed protection from?

Beckett frowned and gave me what I assumed was supposed to be a stern look. It was comical on Beckett’s teddy bear face. “Yeah, I’m aware that you’ve known him forever, but—”

Lyla placed a hand on Beckett’s forearm. “Babe, lay off. Kinley’s not going to hurt him.”

Beckett turned to Lyla with a look of pure confusion. “This girl has a list of guys longer than my—"

“Bec!” Lyla’s eyes flickered with anger. “Okay, you know what? The slut-shaming ends now. I realize that I’ve done my fair share of teasing Kinley, but it was in bad taste.” She turned to me. “Kinley, I’m sorry.” Lyla turned back to her boyfriend. “She’s not going to hurt Jaxon because she loves him a lot, and he loves her.”

I blinked at her in surprise. “Wow, thanks, Lyla.”

With a straight face, Lyla flashed me a peace sign and said, “Feminism.”

Beckett sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Sorry, Kinley. You know we all just love Jax. I didn’t mean to slut-shame or man-splain or…” He turned to Lyla. “What’s the other thing you always say I do?”

Lyla tapped her chin. “Oh. Your general dumbassery.”

Beckett grinned. “That’s the one. Anyway, sorry, Kinley. You and Jaxon are great together. By the way, I would have had a talk with him about not hurting you, too, but he won’t. The guy’s been in love with you since high school, so I know he’s not going to screw it up.”

I sat up a little straighter. “Since kindergarten, actually.” I ran my finger along the edge of my menu. “And it’s been the same amount of time for me. I was just too stupid to see it.” I glanced up and met Beckett’s eyes. “Also, thank you for acknowledging and apologizing for the slut-shaming.”

“No problem, buddy!” Beckett grinned and held up his hand for a high-five.

Jaxon returned and sank back into his chair. “What are we celebrating?”

“The end of slut-shaming Kinley.” Lyla held up her wine glass like she was making a toast.

“About fucking time.” Jaxon squeezed my knee under the table. “A woman that knows what she wants in bed is not a slut, and I will fight the next person that gives K shit.”

Beckett threw his head back and let out his big deep belly laugh. A few other restaurant guests turned to look at us. “I gave her shit! Are you going to fight me?” Beckett puffed out his chest and laughed again.

Jaxon sized him up and then laughed. “Damn it. Your biceps are almost as big as my waist.”

---