Free Still Into You: A Novel (Better Than Series Book 3) by Emme Burton Page A

tease.
                  Quarter has been quiet this whole time, but softly interjects, “I think you can manage it.”
                  Jack and Clay punch him on the bicep and ruffle his hair, both teasing and praising him for his newfound smart aleckiness.
                  I agree with Quarter and tell him so, “I think you’re right, Quarter.  Let’s go dance.”
                  We take two cars.  The five of us won’t fit in the sports car Charlie and Davis rented and had waiting as a surprise for us at the condo.  Clay comes with me.  Jack and Quarter take Jules in their big red pick-up with a lift kit.  I can hear her say, “Cool truck,” as they hike her up to help her in.
    ***
                  The Lucky Snapper is a family restaurant by day, a large open air bar and dance club by night.  It’s located right at the entrance to the bay that connects the Gulf of Mexico and the Intercoastal Waterway on a marina.  Lots of patrons simply dock their boats and climb the steps to the club for the evening.  The theme of the club is, of course, fish and fishing, but with disco lights.  It’s perfect for the area.  Even if you were to come to The Snap in the winter, it would feel like summer.  Tonight, since it’s the weekend, there will be fireworks at midnight. 
                  The club is already rocking when we arrive.  Locals and tourists mingle.  You can tell the difference.  The tourists look a little more cleaned up, like they would back in their cities and hometowns when they go out.  The locals are dressed like the tourists do at the beach – shorts, tees, sundresses over bikinis. The guys grab up a tall table, somehow, and hold out the chairs for us.  Jules orders a soft drink.  The guys get a bucket of beer and I decide to join them in the local favorite.  The beer is ice cold and goes down so easily.  I have to remind myself to slow down.  Clay, Jack, and Quarter are complete gentleman and take turns dancing with Jules and me.  They never leave one of us alone or even look at any of the other girls in the club.  And there are plenty of cute ones checking them out.  They must be wondering what three college guys are doing with two almost-30 year olds.
                  After a few dances with Quarter, he guides me back to the table.  Jules is already there.  I am SO thirsty.  I start in on my second beer and decide I have to ask what I’ve been wondering “Quarter, why are you guys out with us tonight?  Why are you being so nice to us?”
                  “Yeah, Why?”  Jules joins in the questioning, “Why aren’t you out with your hot babes?”
                  Clay snorts and tells Jules, “You’re a hot babe. You’re Charlie Boxwood’s hot babe. You said you’d introduce us. We just want you to have a good opinion of us, so you will.  Introduce us.”
                  Jules laughs out loud, “So you’re flirting with me to get to my husband?  That’s a good one.”  She dramatically sighs and laughs again, “At least you’re honest.”
                  Jack stops Jules’ fake mini pity party. “Oh, don’t be deceived.  We totally would have fired on you both. Hard.  But then you said you were married and that…that’s just not cool.  And well, fuck, sorry, you’re Boxwood’s babes.”
                  Jules’ and I laugh ‘til we cry, “Boxwood’s babes!  Charlie would freaking love that!”  The funny thing is, it’s actually true.
                  As we laugh and talk, the words to the song the DJ is playing hit my cerebral cortex and the lyrics register. 
    “Southside girls can always get dates.
    All the streets are named after states.
    Looking for my beauty queen
    My southside, southside Miss America dream.”
    I look at Jules, Jules looks at me, we both turn to the guys and then all of us