By two o'clock in the afternoon, the clubhouse party has settled into that loud, comfortable groove that only happens when the MC is completely at peace.
The heavy wooden tables are covered in empty cake plates, crumpled wrapping paper, and discarded party hat ribbons. Near the pool table, Mayhem and Brick are locked in an aggressive match, arguing loudly over whether Brick scratched on a bank shot, while Bear and Stitch sit at the bar, watching sports on the overhead television and drinking cold draft beer.
I’m sitting in the deep leather couch near the stone fireplace, my boots kicked off, resting my feet on the low coffee table. The flower crown Jade gave me still sits comfortably on my head, and I feel like a queen holding court.
Beside me, Jade is curled up in the corner of the sof
