Jax just glares at her. "Tell me you'd want your sister dating any of the assholes at the gym."
That makes Lucy wince. "Okay, fair point."
"Hey, we're not assholes," I say in mock outrage. I throw an arm around Max's shoulders. "We're gentlemen of the highest caliber."
At that, I hear a snort behind me.
"I'm not sure the word 'gentleman' could apply to any part of your life," Dani says with a laugh. "I could pick some other words, but not that one."
Everyone's eyes widen as Dani steps up beside me. And where my first reaction should probably be discomfort—since they're all likely having the same reaction to my bringing a girl out as Lucy did—I feel none of that.
All I feel is pride that I get to introduce this super cool girl to my friends.
Jax is the first to speak. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were with our group."
And right away, I can tell there isn't an ounce of Dani that feels like an outsider in this environment. She easily reaches her fist forward for a fist bump. "I'm Danielle. Just call me Dani.”
Jax's lip twitches in an almost-smile at the greeting, and then gives her a fist bump. "Nice to meet you, Dani," he says. Then he jerks his chin at me. "I assume you're here with the dimpled asshole?"
Dani lets out an exaggerated sigh, as if she actually hates being here.
All it does is make my dick twitch with excitement.
"Yup," she answers with a sigh. "Not sure how I got roped into his orbit, but here we are."
I let a pleased smirk form on my face. "You weren't sad about our situation last night, sweetheart."
The admission that I'm sleeping with Dani—and that I brought her out to meet everyone—is enough to make the whole group's eyebrows rise in surprise.
Remy's the one who voices the question that everyone's thinking. "How did you two meet?"
Dani immediately grins, and I can tell she's way too excited to tell the story of our meet-cute. "I met him on Temple's campus when he helped me run from a security guard. We ended up having to—"
I shoot forward to wrap an arm around her and slap my hand over her mouth, plastering my chest against her back. "Aaaand that's enough story time," I growl. "That big mouth of yours is going to get both our asses in trouble." Because as much as I don't mind my friends knowing that I have a claim on Dani—even if it's just that I'm fucking her—I don't really need them knowing the details of my relationship with her. Something about those details makes me feel protective, possessive even, and like I want those memories only for myself.
Dani must not feel the same need because she tugs my hand from her mouth and smirks at me over her shoulder. "Oh please. You love my big mouth." Her grin widens as she wiggles her ass against me. "And my ass."
The memory of the last time I took her ass—and the fact that I wasn't the only one in this group witnessing it—is enough to bring a slight warmth to my cheeks. Because the last thing I need is a public erection in front of my friends, yet Dani and her bold words are definitely about to push me in that direction.
The sight of me blushing makes my friends roar with laughter. "I like her," Remy says with a chuckle. "We need more women to keep these guys in line. It's about time this asshole found a Daddy." She grins at Dani, who grins back, and thefemalebond is formed instantly and visibly.
The sight of that connection makes an excitement grow in my chest that I've never felt before. I refuse to think it has anything to do with my friend group accepting the girl I'm seeing, or that I place any stock in that fact. I somehow convince myself that I'm just excited to see my friend—Remy, in this case—befriending someone else. There's nothing else in play here.
Even still, the last thing I need is those two bonding enough to start ganging up on me. There are already too many feisty women around here as it is.
So I shoo Dani over to Max, attempting to distract her with him. Which works, because they immediately settle into a conversation about their favorite whiskeys. And even though I want to join them, I realize I like the sight of them talking. I'm glad they've become friends, especially after Max's questioning earlier.
I turn back to my gym friends, busting on Jax for his new relationship and grinning at how uncomfortable Remy is, despite the fact that she’s trying to be supportive. But I'm happy for him. I'm happy he's happy, which, seeing the way he looks at Hailey, is the understatement of the year.
For some reason, it makes my gaze travel back to Dani.
Where a guy with hooded eyelids and a visible sway is currently crowding her from the side Max isn't sitting on.
I cock my head and study the interaction, taking in the way he's leaning in, the way she's looking at him with a high, skeptical eyebrow, and the way Max's gaze is narrowing in the guy's direction.
I watch as the drunk guy gives Dani a leering grin, then gestures at the bar, likely offering to buy her a drink. When she doesn't answer, just gives the Dani-estare you fucking serious?look, he forces a laugh and does it again, and I know he's starting the pushy asshole routine.
Max turns in his seat toward me, then shoots a silentwant me to step in?look. I quickly shake my head.