Jimmy and I have fallen into an easy routine over the last month. I make coffee and breakfast before I head to school, and he makes sure I’m all set before he heads downstairs to the bar. Sadly, no more late night encounters between the two of us, but the image of him jerking off on the couch has helped me release some of my own pent-up frustrations.

My body has begun to heal, you can’t see the bruises anymore. However, I’m still waiting for Javier or one of his goons to make a move. It will happen, he said he would never let me go, and I believe him.

I’m startled by banging on the front door as I’m heading down the hall to make breakfast.

I hear Jimmy walk down the hall. “Alright, alright. I’m coming. Keep your damn pants on!”

“Jimmy, I’d be happy to take my pants off for you,” Avery responds.

Where there is one, the other two follow. I better save Jimmy, I quickly turn back toward my room to change out of my pajamas.

“Avery, what are you doing here?” I hear Jimmy growl.

“I’m here to collect your girl, we’re going out.”

As I make my way back down the hall I notice Amber leaning against the door frame, arms crossed under her chest. Katie is standing behind them both mouthing, ‘I’m sorry’ to Jimmy and I. We both know there’s no stopping these two when they want something.

Seeing me in the hallway, Avery says, “Hey hooker, we’re having a girls day.”

Raising an eyebrow, I look to Jimmy. He shrugs, what Avery wants, Avery gets. I throw my hair up in a bun, slip on my converse, grab my purse, and I’m ready to go. I don’t even get a chance to say goodbye to Jimmy as Avery pulls me out the door.

“Bring her back in one piece,” he shouts.

Stopping on the stairs, Amber responds with a devilish grin, “We make no promises.”

I can’t help but laugh as I follow both of them to their car.

After getting pedicures, we’re sitting outside Starbucks, iced coffee is where it’s at when you live in a place that never gets cold.

“Emma, how are you and Jimmy getting along?” Katie asks.

“Fine, I guess.” I shrug, trying to keep my cheeks from reddening.

“Something wrong?” Amber asks.

“No, he’s a nice guy.”

They all laugh, but look at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.

“What?”

“Jimmy is a nice guy, but he’s also, well, an ex-SEAL,” Katie replies.

I must look confused because Avery asks, “Have you ever fucked a SEAL?”

My face turns bright red, Katie slaps Avery’s arm and yells, “Behave!” causing Amber to laugh.

“Uh, no, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“They all have a hero complex, can’t stand to see a damsel in distress. They use their manners in public, but they’re very misbehaved in the bedroom. All cocky, dominant, alpha males with a need to be in control,” Avery responds, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Jimmy isn’t like that. He’s nice to me all the time. Maybe a little too nice,” I mumble.

They all laugh again but stop when they see that I’m serious.

“Sounds to me like you make him nervous. If you weren’t Justin’s baby sister, he would be in your panties. He’s trying to keep you at arm’s length.” Amber wags her eyebrows at me.

Avery nods in agreement. “You won’t regret fucking a SEAL girl, trust us. Sometimes, they just need a little push in the right direction.”

Suddenly my cell starts vibrating on the table, I freeze. 'Javier' is in bold white print as my phone continues to ring.

“Oh, someone must miss you terribly.” Katie giggles, as Amber reaches for my phone. I quickly snatch it off the table and shove it in my pocket before anyone can see who’s calling me.

“That wasn’t Jimmy, was it?” Avery mumbles, with an angry look on her face.

“No, it wasn’t.”

A devious smile graces Avery’s face. “Do you want to have sex with Jimmy?”

“Jesus, Avery. You’re as subtle as a wrecking ball,” Katie says exasperatedly.

“What? You weren’t going to ask, and somebody had to change the subject.”

My face turns red, there’s no point in denying it now.

“Jimmy helped me out of a sticky spot, he’s just putting up with me until I get my shit together.” I try to sound convincing, but even I don’t believe me.

“I’m going to take that as a yes, but you also have feelings for him,” Amber says.

“Look, you guys, Jimmy is just helping me out. It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t feel for him. He’ll never see me as anything but Justin’s baby sister. ”

“You keep telling yourself that sweetheart,” Katie says with a wink.

Being around all this estrogen is exhausting. Suddenly something occurs to me, “Hey, my twenty-first birthday is coming up, care to show a small town girl how the West Coast lives?”

Avery pushes her chair back to stand. “When we’re done with you, you’ll be a woman of the world. Follow us young grasshopper, gotta get your alcohol tolerance up.”

She’s been gone all day. I can’t help but worry what trouble she has gotten into. If she were with just Katie, I wouldn’t stress, but with those other two involved, there is no telling what’s going on.

I’m startled by a soft knock on the door. I swing the door open and am met by all four girls, three of them completely trashed. Katie is the only sober one, carrying Emma on her back. Avery and Amber are doing god knows what next to the door. All I hear is moaning coming from those two. I shake my head at all three of them before addressing Katie,

“Katie, why the fuck are you carrying Emma? Logan will kill me if something happens to you or the baby.”

“Babies, old man!” Avery yells.

“Twins, good lord. Congratulations though. Promise me you will keep them away from these two.”

Grabbing Emma off Katie’s back, I cradle her in my arms.

“She’s a lightweight, we have to toughen this one up before her birthday in a few days,” Amber responds leaning against the doorframe.

“Are you going to let us in? We brought your precious cargo back, unharmed,” Avery sasses back as she pushes her way inside.

“Unharmed? I consider trashed out of her mind a violation of our agreement.”

“We never made any promises, your bad.” All the girls giggle as they file in.

I shake my head, shutting the door behind them.

I continue past them toward my bedroom. “You all know where shit is. I’m sleeping in my own bed, so take the couch or wherever,” I say, hoping not to wake Emma.

Getting to her room, I place her on the bed to remove her shoes, waking her in the process.

“Jimmy?” she mumbles.

I chuckle at the confused look on her face as she sits up.

“Hey, Little Bit, have a little too much to drink?”

“Nope,” she says with a smile. “Just the right amount. I wanted to forget, and Avery said I needed to practice.”

“Practice?” I question.

I watch as she struggles to get under the covers.

“Yup, I need to up my tolerance. It’s my twenty-first birthday. Plus, they gave me pointers.”

“Pointers on what?”

I wait for her response but am met with her soft snoring. I hesitate for a moment, but I can’t resist. I bend over and place a chaste kiss on her forehead.

“Sleep well, Little Bit,” I whisper before straightening and head out the door to my own bedroom. Once there I notice my bed already occupied with Katie, Avery, and Amber passed out, a jumble of limbs.

Shaking my head, I mumble, “Looks like another night on the couch, I’m getting too old for this shit.” Grabbing a pair of shorts to change into, I head for the couch.