Jen rolled her eyes. “She means diversify our reading, not our friendship group, you plum.”

“Are they always like this?” I asked Mason quietly.

With a grimace, he nodded. “And then some.”

“My challenge is fine,” Evelyn protested. “It’s diverse and inclusive of all genres of romance!”

“Now you just sound like The Twitter.” Jen sipped her whiskey.

“It’s just Twitter,” Mason said. “Not The Twitter.”

“Are you sassin’ me, boy?”

“I’m gonna if one of you asks me that damn question again.”

I bit back a laugh right as the door to the bar opened and Hannah stepped in. Her eyes scanned the room back and forth until they landed on our table. They flashed with annoyance as they met mine, but I knew she wasn’t pissed at me.

I hoped she wasn’t.

We’d probably saved these four from doing something extra stupid.

“Uh-oh,” Evelyn said, hiding behind her huge gin glass. “We’re in trouble.”

Jen narrowed her eyes at us. “Which one of you fuckers called her?”

“Grandma!” Hannah stomped to the table. “Don’t talk to them like that! You know you’re not supposed to be here.”

Jen turned and looked at her. “I’m your elder.”

“You’re my pain in the ass,” she shot back. “There’s a damn good reason you’re not allowed out drinking without supervision. You can’t control yourselves!”

“That’s why I’m wearing leather pants, darling,” Lil replied. “Absolute bitch to get on and off. That’s me controlling myself.”

“That’s not the point.” Hannah put her hands on her hips. “Finish your drinks. We’re leaving before you do something crazy.”

“Who died and made you the boss?” Kathleen sniffed.

“Ask Grandma. She was reading the obituaries this morning after all.”

My lips quirked. That was a strange little habit she had, but it fit her. And aside from using it to torture her granddaughters about her age, I imagined it was an efficient way of updating her phonebook.

If she actually had a phonebook.

I wouldn’t put it past her not to have one.

“Who died and made her boss?” Kathleen asked Jen.

“God knows, but I want to speak to the HR department. She’s awful.”

Hannah huffed. “That’s it. We’re going. Or I’m calling the police and having you pre-emptively put in jail.”

“They don’t do that, dear,” Lil said, eyes still on the TV. “Too expensive apparently. You pay all these taxes and they won’t lock anyone up to stop them from causing trouble.”

“The irony of that statement does not escape me,” Hannah said tightly. “Come on. Let’s go. Now.”

“I’ll help you take them home.” I finished the last of my beer and put the bottle down. “I’ve only had that one.”

Relief flashed in her eyes.

“He’s taking me!” Jen said, standing up with her cane. “Let’s go, hot stuff!”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for Mason to take you home? Considering you live next door to him?” Hannah asked Jen.

“Can’t, sorry.” Mason did as I had and finished the beer. “I promised Immy I’d stop in and see if she needed help. She’s all yours, man.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Ladies. Behave yourselves.”