Page 28 of Her Marine
“We both know I’m not most people,” Killian responded with a smirk before taking a drink from his glass.
“Indeed, you are not.”
“But neither are you, Little Tigress.” Killian took another drink. “So, aside from Kaydence and your sisters, how’d you meet the other women you were with at the bar?”
“Kaydence and I have been friends since junior high, so through her, I met her sister Talia and Alivia,” Journee stated, scrunching her nose at the latter’s name. “They’re best friends. Zuri, we met through Aryah, and Zuri and Nova are cousins. So, we sort of just fell in together. It’s been about eleven years now of us all hanging together.”
“You really don’t like Alivia, do you?” Killian questioned, leaning back in his seat.
“I don’t.”
“Is it because she and Axel used to date, but he’s now dating Kaydence, or is there another reason?”
Journee raised an eyebrow at him. “It is far from that first reason. I didn’t like her in high school. She had this uncanny way of making everything about her and playing the victim. She started ninety-eight percent of the shit she got into, but still, somehow, felt like she was the one who was being wronged, and she thinks she can talk to people any kind of way. Granted, I do the same to her, but I give off the energy I receive.” Journee shrugged. “I thought with age she would grow out of it, but that hasn’t been the case. So, I take her in minimal doses in a group setting.” Journee leaned back in her chair. “How do you and the other men know one another, aside from Axel and Jax?”
“It’s pretty much the same with us. I met Axel after he enlisted, and through him, I met Jax. Slate and I are cousins. We met Gram and Ace, who are brothers through Jax, and Matteo and Maximus, who are also brothers we met through Ace. We’ve all been friends for about ten years or so.”
Their server returned and placed the two large plates in the middle of the table. They then put two plates in front of them and stated they would return with refills.
Over the next hour, they ate and continued to talk while the jazz music played, and they had their second round of drinks.
When they finished eating, Journee reached inside her purse and pulled out some gum. She never went anywhere without some and offered a piece to Killian as well.
“I have to go to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
She got up and went to the ladies’ room to wash her hands and check herself in the mirror.
When Journee walked out of the restroom, she looked around and found their server, giving them her card and telling them to put dinner on it. She looked toward the table to see a woman standing by the seat she’d vacated, talking to Killian, who was scrolling through his phone. The server came over with a ticket for Journee to sign it.
She returned to the table, and Killian looked up, slipping his phone back into his pocket. She sat on his lap sideways, crossing one leg over the other. His arm came around her waist, and Journee rested her clutch on her lap.
“You made a friend while I was gone,” she stated, looking at the woman across from them.
Killian glanced at the woman before placing his finger under Journee’s chin, turning her back towards him. “No, I didn’t,” he said before kissing her.
When they pulled apart, Journee licked lips. “Will you dance with me?”
Killian nipped at her lower lip. “Lead the way.”
Journee stood, taking Killian’s hand, and led the way to where a few other people were dancing. Killian pulled her against him, and Journee wrapped her arms around his neck, holding her clutch in one hand. Killian’s hands rested on her ass as they danced, and he squeezed it.
When the song ended, Killian leaned down and pecked her on the lips. “I want to take you somewhere. Let me pay for our drinks and dinner, and we can go.”
Journee bit her bottom lip. “Can I have the keys? I’m going to go wait in the car.” She would wait in the car while he discovered that she’d already paid for their dinner.
“I don’t want you walking to the car alone.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Killian handed her the keys, and Journee sauntered to the car. She slid inside, starting it. It was only a few minutes later when Killian came out. He got into the driver’s side, gripping her chin gently; he turned her to face him.
“Is there a reason you decided to sneak and pay for dinner?”
“Because you always pay when we go out.”
“I fail to see the problem.”
“I’m capable of paying as well,” Journee told him, attempting to pull her chin from his grip, only for him to tighten it a bit.
