Rick and Maria appeared more amused than anything else, Kate was giving Sharon dirty looks but not to the same extent that Andrew was glaring at Jake, and Hilary had disappeared, leaving Liam to shoot speculative glances between Jake and Sharon. His gaze was more thoughtful than anything else. Olivia and Luke were both quiet, although Olivia was watching Jake very carefully, her red nails tapping on the bar table. Sitting on the other side of Sharon, Ellie just watched everything that was going on with big eyes, while Michael seemed mostly amused.

Patrick found the whole situation hilarious, the big dick.

He’d laughed when Jake had explained that he was just doing the friendly thing and he hadn’t stopped chuckling since.

“You know that you’re going to have to spend the whole weekend with each other, right?” Kate asked suspiciously. Looking at her wasn’t much fun because Andrew’s dark glare was coming from right over her head, but Jake did his best to focus on her and not on her fiancé.

“And her family,” he answered, shrugging one of his shoulders. “Sharon told me. It’ll be fine. Unless you think she’d be better off with an ex than a friend?”

Kate’s lips pressed together while Patrick coughed into his hand. A cough that suspiciously sounded like a laugh. Exchanging a glance with Rick, Maria raised her eyebrow, a small smile playing on her face as well.

Yeah, okay, so calling him and Sharon friends was a bit of a stretch, or would have been before the new year, but come on. A little faith would be nice.

“Ooo good, you’re back! What did I miss?” Hilary’s chipper voice made him twist slightly so he could see her. The pretty blonde was looking between him and Sharon, rather than at her husband, Liam, who was reaching for her. She had a fun, sunny personality that reminded him a bit of Sharon, but without the crudeness. Hilary pretty much epitomized the term ‘lady-like’. If asked, Jake would have said that Hilary was exactly his type, although he’d never been attracted to her. Then again, she’d been taken, and therefore off-limits, when he’d met her anyway.

“Jake’s taking Sharon to her cousin’s wedding because ‘they’re friends’ and she shouldn’t have to go with an ex,” Lexie said, drawling the words out with a complete absence of tone that made it clear she thought he was shoveling horseshit.

“Oh! Okay, I’ll be right back,” Hilary said, swinging back around and scurrying back to the front door. “Jessica, Angel, and Leigh are going to love this!”

Groaning, Jake covered his face with his hand as he realized why Hilary had disappeared before. No phones were permitted inside the club proper; despite that, she was taking care of updating everyone who wasn’t there in real time. Great.