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Story: Tenderfoot

“You know, I might be girlie, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak and need to be protected,” I kept at her. “And Javi might be a big guy, but that doesn’t mean he’s a predator.”
Now Jessie looked like she was getting mad. “I didn’t say he was a predator.”
“No, but you get what I mean. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all grown up,” I retorted.
Jessie planted her hands on her hips. “Do not stand there and be mad at me for worrying about you when not too long ago, you were mad at me. And, I’ll add, you threw a fair amount of attitude when I didn’t share something with you that was mine to share when and if I wanted to share it, and you did that because you were worried about me,” Jessie returned.
Bah!
She had me there.
We did a friend face off.
This lasted all of two seconds before Raye inched up and said, “My favorite part about last night, outside of learning Alexis and Jacob are engaged, was Javi carrying you out of the courtyard like you were a football.”
Everyone laughed.
Yeah, including me, because it was funny, but also it was Javi Sweet.
“My favorite part was you telling Martha you loved her, and then spending ten minutes trying to make her tell you she loved you back,” Luna put in.
“Oh yeah, that was good too,” Raye said.
We all laughed at that as well.
By the by, Martha never caved.
I still knew she loved me.
Just…in her way.
“Women!”
At that, we all jumped and looked to see Tex just in from the coffee cubby, glowering at us.
He had to say no more. Everyone got to work, me trailing Raye behind the bar.
She was eyeing me speculatively. “Are you not hungover?”
“Javi gave me some hydration thing. It works miracles.”
“I need to find out what that is.”
“I’ll ask Javi.”
She smiled.
I noted, “No one has said anything about the Kev/Trev situation.”
She became all business and nodded. “Yeah, we need a confab about that. For once, he’s not returning Willow’s calls. After straightening up your pad, Luna, Willow and I swung by his place last night, but he wasn’t there. Cap nor Eric are sharing anything they’re learning. Titus says we’re welcome at his garage anytime, but if he knows something about this sitch, he refuses to say. And Arthur also doesn’t know anything.”
“So…no leads?” I asked.
Raye shook her head. “None.”
“Are we giving up?”
Her eyes lit. “No. We’re meeting Shanti’s cousin at some bar for wings and football tomorrow at one to see if we can pump him for any information.”

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