“I doubt you did the kind of dancing I do. Either of you,” Katie explained without an ounce of embarrassment, and I loved her for that. “I work across the street.”

Avery’s brows pinched, and I knew she was mentally seeing the outside again, and the moment understanding seeped in, her eyes widened. “You . . .”

“Take my clothes off?” Katie laughed. “I flashed my goods from time to time, but it’s more classy than your average shoving your vajaja in unsuspecting faces.”

I couldn’t help it. A laugh burst out of me, but Teresa kept a straight face. “You got to hate it when that happens.”

“Or when it’s a penis,” Katie replied.

My jaw was aching from how hard I had my lips pressed together, and Avery giggled from behind her glass.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to do that—strip—at least once,” Teresa announced thoughtfully, and my eyes almost popped out of my head. “It looks like it would be a lot of fun.”

Excitement flooded Katie’s face. “I could so help you with that!”

Um. I had a feeling Jase would so not be down for that and neither would her brother. Actually, I wanted to be around when Teresa announced that she wanted to scratch stripping off her bucket list.

Pearl was starting to run around like a madwoman and I was feeling bad about standing around talking. “Guys, I need to help out. I’m sorry, but . . .”

“It’s totally okay.” Teresa waved her hand, grinning at Katie. “Don’t worry. We’ll probably be here for a little bit.”

“Okay.” I hopped forward and kissed her cheek and then Avery’s. “Be good.”

Teresa giggled as I hugged Katie and then hurried off, hoping that when I came back Teresa wasn’t across the street warming up a pole. I skirted around the guys, but I’d made it about three feet when Jax was suddenly by my side. He dropped his arm over my shoulders and steered me down the hall toward the office and stockroom before I could blink an eye.

There, he stopped outside the door and faced me. Head bent down, he spoke in a low voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed. “There’s something wrong with you.”

There was a lot wrong with me right now, but I really didn’t want to get into it with Jax. “I’m fine. I’m probably going to be hanging out with everyone tomorrow since they’re going to be in town.”

A muscle in his jaw spasmed. “You’re not fine. And you’re totally bullshitting me.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “How so?”

“You were out there, talking to your friends like someone drop-kicked your puppy into oncoming traffic.”

“I did not look like someone kicked . . .” My chest rose with a deep breath and then I said screw it and prepared to unload, because what was the point in lying and stewing about it? I met his gaze. “You know what? I’m not okay. And maybe it’s because I told Teresa about you.”