Chapter 2

Jack

"Pearl!" One of the other women admonishes the old lady, but she just laughs in response. My mouth drops in shock as my eyes swivel between Everett and the old lady trying to figure out what the hell she's talking about.

"What does that mean?" Everett asks and a round of giggles goes around the room. 

"Smut is... A descriptive romance. With spicy scenes." One of the women says. 

"Literary p**n." Another one adds.

"Cliterature, if you will." Someone else supplies with a chuckle. The word triggers something I've always wondered about.

"Real talk. Is the clit real?" I ask, the words spewing from my mouth like vomit before I can stop them. My eyes widen at my own question as giggles ring through the room, followed by one annoyed groan from a girl who looks about the same age as us.

"Tell me you've never made a woman come before without telling me you've never made a woman come before." She mutters at me and I scowl in return. 

"Hey, I've never had any complaints." I snap at her and she grins in response.

"Yeah? I've bet you've never had any repeat customers either." She says and I go to defend myself but then I keep my mouth shut when I realize she's right. 

"That's what I thought." She murmurs as another woman speaks up.

"Someone draw these boys a diagram." She shouts and is met with raucous laughter from the room. Everett shakes his head and goes to stand.

"Actually, I think we'll just head out." He says, but he stops as the old lady, Pearl apparently, slams her cane on the floor making a loud cracking sound ring through the small room.

"You will not leave, young man. If anything, you need us." She says causing us to look at each other in confusion as Everett sinks back into the couch. 

"How do you figure?" He asks.

"I'm getting the sense neither of you are particularly smooth with the ladies. Am I wrong?" She asks. We look at each other, but neither of us say anything because well...

She's not wrong.

"Mmhmm... Now who do you think writes these books?" She asks and we both shrug. "Women." She says succinctly, but we both just stare at her in confusion. She huffs at us, rolling her eyes before pinning us with a firm stare.

"Women write these books. You want to learn how to sweep a woman off her feet? There's your manual." She says, motioning towards the book in my lap. I look at the novel with a newfound respect before looking around the room. 

"Seriously?" I ask and the women all nod. 

"Oh yeah. I'd love for my husband to read some of these books. Maybe we could spice things up a little." A woman says and many others nod their heads in agreement. 

"Oh hell yes. Maybe get him to growl and call you a good girl." Another says with a giggle. My eyebrows shoot up in surprise and the younger girl looks at us with amusement. 

"Smut readers are a different breed. There's no judgement here, but that also means we tend to overshare." She says and I see Everett's face flame in a blush. 

"Sorry, boys. We'll try to tone it back. I'm Miranda by the way." She says. They go around the room to introduce themselves, and we learn the girl about our age is named Gwen, along with Julie, Helena, Dawn and a few others I can't remember. Apparently they all know each other already as they chat idly while Everett and I try to wrap our minds around this plot twist. 

"Well, what do you think?" I ask him and he shrugs, leafing through the book. 

"I don't know. Maybe they're right. It couldn't hurt to read the book, right?" He asks. I run an exasperated hand down my face, shaking my head as I look down at the book. 

"Yeah. It couldn't hurt... and maybe they could give you some tips you can use on Harper." I say with a shit eating grin that has Everett blushing again.

"Don't you say shit about her to them." He says firmly. I chuckle, but nod in agreement. 

"Fine. We'll try it out. I still can't believe this book is a romance. This dude looks like fucking Thor." I say, pointing to the cover. 

"Pfft. Thor wishes." Gwen says as she ambles towards us, clearly enjoying our discomfort. 

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"That guy's a werewolf. Thor could never hold a candle to him." She says and I decide not to fight her on it. I'd have no idea what I'm talking about anyway. "So what's it gonna be? You gonna be a ball sack about it and leave?" She asks. I look at her confused and Everett asks the question on my mind. 

"A ball sack?" 

"Yeah." She says, shrugging nonchalantly. "Most people say 'are you gonna be a pussy about it' but I think that's bull shit. You so much as flick a ball sack, a dude is on the ground rolling around in agony. But a pussy? It can take a beating." She says with a wide grin and I hear Everett inhale a sharp breath, causing him to sputter and cough. I roll my eyes at him and Gwen starts to laugh. 

"You're gonna have to toughen up if you're gonna hang out with us." She says, patting Everett firmly on the back until he catches his breath. 

"Do you think it's weird?" He asks her. "Guys reading a book like this?" He asks and she snorts in response.

"No. I think all guys should read them. There would probably be a hell of a lot more satisfied women in the world if they did. But I'm also not one for gender stereotypes. If you want to read it, fucking read it. Who cares? Yeah there's sex and romance in it, but I've read this author before and it actually has a great storyline. Don't be afraid to try something new just because you think people will judge you." She says, turning to walk away. "But decide quick. I want to start reading. This author writes the hottest shit." She says, fanning herself as she goes back to her seat. 

"Well, boys, what's it gonna be?" Miranda asks. The room quiets as the women all look towards us. Everett and I glance at each other, before I respond.

"We're gonna give it a shot." I say firmly. Miranda smiles and Pearl lets out a little cheer. 

"Excellent. Let's get started." She says, opening the book. 

"Wait!" Julie says. I didn't notice her leave the room, but she enters it again with a huge piece of paper and a black sharpie. 

"What are you doing?" Miranda asks as Julie tapes the paper to one of the walls. 

"Drawing them a picture." Julie says, shrugging as if it's obvious. 

"Of what?" Everett asks. 

"The clit." Julie answers, unbothered as she starts to draw a vulva and opening of the vagina on the paper. My mouth gapes in shock and I look over at Everett, but he's busy pulling a notebook and pen from his backpack as he watches Julie with rapt attention. 

"What are you doing?" I ask. He scowls at me, flipping open to a blank page of his notebook. 

"Taking notes."