“She deserved it,” she mutters. “But fucking hell, she had a hard nose.”

“You surprised me with your right hook.”

“I haven’t had to use it for a while,” she admits, and narrows her eyes, staring across the room. “That chick pissed me off.”

“I hope so. I’d hate to think that that’s how you greet someone you like.”

“I don’t understand women,” she replies. “And I know you’re on a smartass kick right now, but let me finish.”

My lips twitch, but I keep them closed and wait for her to continue.

“Mia may look like a badass, and I know that she gives the impression that she’s hard and driven, but she really has the sweetest heart of anyone I know. And she’s been bullied all of her life because of her weight.”

She looks up at me with tear-filled eyes. “Women are horrible to each other, and it starts when we’re young. I know that boys scuffle and they’re competitive, but girls are flat-out horrible. Critical, mean, judgmental, disgusting people.

“It’s so weird because when you go into the bathroom of a bar or club, girls are as supportive as can be. ‘Here, your tag is showing. Your lipstick is smudged on one side.’ We console each other, say ‘He isn’t worth it anyway.’ Compliment each others shoes, hold a stranger’s hair back when she pukes her tequila back up, share gum and makeup pointers. You’d think that every woman in there is your BFF.”

She takes a sip of the cooling coffee and shakes her head.

“But the second you leave that bathroom, it’s like a battlefield. All Mia did was dance with a nice man when he asked. That’s it. She didn’t make out with him on that dance floor, she didn’t flaunt herself or act stupid. She was having fun, and that woman thought it was appropriate to come to our table and insult her in front of all of her friends because she has a crush on that guy and was jealous of Mia.”

She wipes a tear off her cheek and shakes her head. “I don’t get it. It was cruel and intentional, and she deserved the shot I gave her to the nose. She deserved more than that, to be honest.”

“I don’t understand either,” I reply, and fold her into my arms, tucking her under my chin. “But I was so proud of you for standing up to her and defending Mia.”

“I like to think that I would have defended any woman being treated like that. But it was Mia, and I love her.”

“I know.”

“And I didn’t want Landon to have to punch a girl, so I did it instead.”

“You don’t have to justify it to me. Those women were horrible. It’s no wonder that Carter guy wants nothing to do with her.”

“Poor Carter,” she says with a laugh. “I wonder how long she’s had her sights set on him?”

“Too long would be my guess,” I reply, and kiss her head. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t feel great,” she replies, sliding out of my arms and back down into the bed. “It used to be that I could party all night and not be hungover the next day.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” I lie next to her and hook a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Well, this isn’t a good thing,” she says, her eyes closed now. “Except to say that I won’t be drinking like I did last night much more in my lifetime. It’s not worth the punishment the next day.”

“I can imagine.”

“Hey, why aren’t you hungover?”

“Because I didn’t drink much. I was driving you home.”

She smiles and kisses my arm, hugging it to her. “I love how responsible you are.”

“I think we’re both pretty responsible.”

“Usually, but not last night. I let loose. It was the shots that did me in.”

“It was a lot of shots.”

“Did you count?”

“You did nine shots, Red. That’s a lot of liquor for a little thing like you.”

She smirks. “Little thing like me.”

“You’re short.”

“There’s no need to name-call,” she replies, and snuggles closer to me. “Can we stay like this all day?”

“No.”

She frowns and opens one eye so she can glare at me.

“I don’t like that answer from you.”

“Well, that’s the answer you’re getting today.” I kiss her forehead, and then her nose. “But I promise it’ll be worth getting out of bed.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s your birthday, sweetheart.”

“Oh yeah. I guess I should call my parents.”

I frown. “They won’t call you?”

“They might, but they usually forget.”

My arms tighten around her. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, it’s just who they are. They don’t mean it to be hurtful.” She leans back to look up at me. “We celebrated my birthday yesterday.”

“With the others, yes, but not just you and me.”

A slow smile spreads across her messy, gorgeous face. “Oh.”

“So I’m going to give you an hour to nap, and then pull yourself together so we can celebrate properly.”

“Have I mentioned that I love your bossy side?”

“Once or twice.” I kiss her once more and then slap her ass through the covers before slipping from the bed. “Get up.”