Page 17 of Never Going to Care

It takes a few more minutes and some goodbye kisses from those who have men who truly care about them, all while I ignore Hale like he’s a damn plague of locusts, but then we’re out the door and hailing a cab. I’m looking forward to it since it’s been a while since I’ve been out. I’ve never been to Sala, but Briar, the florist who is doing Piper’s wedding and knows Ella and her men, mentioned it as the place to go.

She sold us when we found out about how big the VIP section is and told us she could have it reserved for us without a problem. I guess she kind of knows the owner or something. We didn’t get a lot of details, but that doesn’t matter to me. I haven’t done a lot of clubbing in the last few years, focusing on my career instead of having fun. I didn’t exactly have any other ideas on where to go.

I knew where to make reservations for dinner considering it’s one of Piper’s favorite restaurants in the city, but we don’t get to go often. When we pull up, Piper lets out a gasp and licks her lips like she’s hungry which has the rest of us laughing along with her.

We haven’t been here since we went out to celebrate Ezra’s winning season. I hope it doesn’t trigger anything for Piper considering it was that dinner which put her in danger with a woman who was stalking Ezra. The smile on her face makes me breathe a sigh of relief.

I made reservations a while ago and dropped my brother’s name when I did. I’ve got no shame when it comes to making sure this night is one Piper will remember. She deserves it.

When we get settled, Piper jokes, “Ezra isn’t going to jump out of a dark corner, is he?”

I laugh and shake my head. “He did pout like a little baby when I told him he couldn’t come, and it was just a girl’s night.”

“I bet he did,” Stella quips, a soft smile on her face. She glances around. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to crash the party.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I made him pinky promise that he wouldn’t.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if my men and Landon just magically happen to be at Sala tonight,” Ella jokes.

Yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me either. Why does the idea of Hale not being there to check on me make my heart clench? It shouldn’t and I push the reaction down so my misguided hurt doesn’t show on my face.

Stella looks confused as she furrows her eyebrows together. “Why would they do that? We’re going to be just fine. Isn’t Landon having his bachelor party tonight too?”

Ella and Piper share a look and then start laughing. I can’t help but giggle and even though Stella has no idea what is going on, which is clear by the look on her face, she joins us. It’s hard not to laugh surrounded by people who are doing it, ya know?

When the laughter slows, Ella explains, “Let’s just say my guys are a little possessive and have a lot of alpha energy.”

“Times three,” I snort.

Stella cocks her head to the side, her voice confused, “But you’re clearly, you know,” she waves her hand as if encompassing Ella, “with them and happy.”

Ella sound amused as she counters, “You mean so pregnant that no other man should want to look at me?”

Stella grimaces and holds up her hands. “That’s not what I meant.”

Ella smiles wide and leans forward across the table a little bit. “I got married to them last month and we’ve been together for almost a year now. Before that I knew them growing up because of Landon. I’m committed to them and them to me, but it isn’t going to stop them from worrying about me and wanting me to know who I belong to.”

“Belong to,” Stella snorts.

Piper and Ella share a look, but it’s not malicious. Piper teases Stella, “I bet if the right man told you that you belong to him and only him that you’d be singing a different tune.”

Stella blushes slightly but then she huffs out a laugh and shakes her head. “No way,” she insists.

“Sure,” Ella sasses with a wink. “They’re mine just as much as I am theirs.”

Why the fuck does Hale flash in my mind. I shake it off, but it’s already there. The thought of him telling me I’m his and only his and he’s mine makes a shiver work its way through my body.

“Their kind of alpha isn’t asshole, controlling alpha,” Piper says gently. “It’s different, but it’s oh so good.”

“Is that why you’ve been glowing since Landon got his head out of his ass?” I wiggle my eyebrows at Piper, and we start laughing again.

I can’t help but notice the way Stella seems to mull over the conversation and I’m not much better than her. I wonder who she’s thinking about. I know who I am, even though I shouldn’t be.

“What are the guys doing for Landon’s bachelor party?” I arch an eyebrow at Piper. “I can’t imagine him doing the strip club thing.”

Piper snorts in a totally unladylike fashion as our food arrives. She shakes her head furiously. “No way, he’s definitely not going to do that, and I don’t think the guys would try and trick him into it either. Probably because Landon would kick their asses, even if they thought it was funny.” She shrugs one shoulder casually. “They’re probably having some whiskey or something at the office so they’re closer.”

“You mean before they head over to Sala to keep their eyes on us,” Ella says with a sly grin.

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