Page 63 of Magic and Matrimony

“Oh hey, this is your club, right? You must get a lot of perks from being the owner.” Harley’s gaze drags between me and Ambrose, implying that whatever I’m doing with him it’s for entry into this club.

“Harley Dustin?” Ambrose says thoughtfully. “My wife told me about you.”

I take a step back, but Ambrose keeps me tethered to his side. I want to go hide in a corner.

Harley’s eyes drift to Ambrose’s hand on my hip. “You don’t look like you’re married. Who’s your wife? I feel bad for her.” Harley laughs.

Ambrose chuckles along with him. “Piper’s my wife. I don’t know, Pipes. Should we feel bad for you?”

I want to tell him to leave me out of whatever this pissing match is, but he’s still holding me tight.

Harley’s face morphs into a shocked mask. “You got married? He married you?”

“I think the better question is: why would she marry me? Because it sounds like you were insulting my wife.”

Harley ignores Ambrose and lifts his chin with a sneer. “When did you get married? I didn’t even know you’re seeing someone.”

“I wasn’t aware you were keeping up with my private life.” How has this conversation turned into a pile on Piper-fest. I don’t want to be here, but now Harley is going to insult me in one breath and accuse me of being a cheater in the next. Fuck that.

“Oh, I know all about your private life,” Harley sneers. I haven’t seen him for at least six months. And the thought that I’ve done stuff with him makes my stomach revolt.

Ambrose snaps his fingers. “Oh, that’s right. Piper, isn’t he the guy you said never once made you come? Really, Harley, you should work on that.”

I smack a hand over my eyes and duck out from Ambrose’s arm. “All right, it’s time to go.”

Except Harley pushes Ambrose. “She’s a fucking liar, man.”

Ambrose straightens out to his full height. Harley isn’t small, but he’s not as tall or broad as Ambrose.

“You did not just call my wife a liar. I know your type. I highly doubt you’ve gotten anyone off but yourself in your entire life.”

“Oh yeah, and you’re Mr. Pleasure over here.”

I can’t believe they’re fighting over orgasms. My orgasms.

Harley swings at Ambrose. He ducks and lands a punch to Harley’s stomach. The others finally come off the dance floor and Ava hooks her arm through mine. “What is going on? Is that Harley Dustin?”

“Yeah, and they’re fighting over orgasms.” I glare at the two of them. I’m not sure who I’m more embarrassed for, them or me?

“Whose orgasms?” Ava cries out way too loud.

“I’ll be outside.” I sigh, turn my back on the fighting, and hurry toward the front door.

Ava’s arm is still hooked in mine, and she whines as I tug her away. “But I want to see them punch each other.”

“Oh my God.” I’m mortified, and fine, just the tiniest bit elated, that Ambrose is standing up for me. In the weirdest way possible. Still, there’s something about him defending me that feels really good. Which I know is so wrong, because as much of an asshole as Harley is, he probably doesn’t deserve to get his face punched. Actually, no, he definitely does.

Ambrose comes out a few minutes later, practically being dragged by Roman and Bram. Stellan looks like he’s having an incredible time as he walks out with Josephine and Odie. For someone who works with kids, he has a really dark sense of humor. Or maybe that’s a prerequisite.

Ambrose shrugs off Roman and Bram and comes to a stop in front of me. He shakes out his hands and there’s a bruise starting to form on his jaw. “I can’t believe you let that douche touch you.”

I reel back. “Excuse me,” I whisper. We are not going to do this. I feel my friends sucking in air and moving away from the two of us.

“He’s such an asshole. Do you like guys like that? People who treat you like you’re just some body to get off on.”

“I don’t think you have any room to talk about using women.” I step into his space, our chests pressing together.

“They always knew there’d be nothing more. I was never dishonest with them.”

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