They grow quiet as a large dude with no shirt on staggers in front of the car, chugging from a bottle of whiskey.

Jax frowns at the man. “Maybe I should stay out here with Raven.”

“You know it’s just as bad out here as it is in there,” Hunter reminds him as he unfastens his seat belt. “We might as well all go in.” He flashes us a grin. “Besides, tonight is all about adventure, remember?”

“I guess so.” Jax looks about as unenthusiastic as one can get.

“Don’t worry, Jaxon,” I tease in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I’ve been in sketchy bars before. I can protect you if shit goes bad.”

“You’re such a little smartass,” he mutters with a ghost of a smile on his pretty lips.

That has me smiling, too. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Good. I meant it as one.” He removes his arm from behind me and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his demeanor seeming more upbeat.

My lips threaten to turn upward into a huge-ass smile, but that fades when I note Hunter is observing us with a pucker at his brow. When he notices me noticing him, he quickly plasters on a grin.

“Ready to have some fun, baby?”

I roll my eyes and pretend to vomit, but that just makes him laugh. Then he hops out of the car and bumps the door closed.

I turn toward Jax, waiting for him to get out so I can, but he doesn’t budge; just stares at me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask worriedly.

He hesitates. “It’s nothing.” Anxiety is radiating off of him, but I’m starting to catch on to the fact that this is just who Jax is. He’s a worrier, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s just something I notice. Probably because I worry a lot, too. I just usually get stoned whenever I feel that way, but the river ruined my stash. Not that I don’t think these guys can get me some, if I ask. But we’re getting drunk tonight, so that’ll do, I guess.

“What can I do to make you feel less nervous?” I ask, trying to make him feel better.

He considers what I said, wavering his head from side to side. “Can you just let me stay by you while we’re in here?”

I nod. “Sure. I was already planning on it, anyway.”

He relaxes a smidgeon then reaches for the door handle and pushes the door open. He climbs out, and I follow, stepping onto the gravel parking lot. Then Jax locks the door before shutting it, while I wander over to where Hunter is standing in front of the car.

“It’s colder out here than it is at you guys’ house,” I remark as I wrap my arms around myself.

“It’s because it’s closer to the mountains,” Hunter explains, checking his phone. “You’re feeling okay, right?”

“Um … yeah?” I ask, unsure why he’s asking me that. “It’s just a little cold.”