189. Chapter 189

He’s drunk and he’s starting to slur, and James is passing him glasses of water and Alex is tousling his hair and he’s staring at Maggie and Kara, laughing together at the bar as they order another round of root beer, regular beer, and club soda for everyone.

He leans into Alex’s shoulder and she pretends to flinch away from him (but subtly holds him steady) as he points an unsteady finger at her face, his face screwed up in thought.

“Girl, I gotta tell you.” She raises her eyebrows as she looks down at him and fights the smile that’s tugging on her lips as Winn tries to formulate his next sentence. “I think your cop-friend over there has a big crush on you.”

Alex glances at James over the top of Winn’s head and steadies her heart and smirks. “I hope so, Schott. It’d be kinda sad if my girlfriend didn’t have a big crush on.”

James shouts and raises his beer bottle at Alex’s root beer and they spill a little when they clink together but neither of them care because James is thrilled and Alex is ecstatic and Winn… Winn is drunk, and Winn is confused.

“No, nooooo no no no no no.” Alex’s wide smile fades faster than James thought was even possible and they both stare at Winn, backing up from Alex’s shoulder now, shaking his head and thrumming the table with the tip of his index finger.

“No no no, see, I vetted her as a friend, I vetted her as a Superfriend, but no one told me I had to vet her as Alex Danvers’s girlfriend. No no no no no no. Unacceptable.”

James is smiling again, now, and Alex’s eyes are shining with relieved tears.

“No, nope, Alex, I’m sorry, she can’t date you yet. I’m not letting her date you until she’s thoroughly vetted, past girlfriends and all that. She’s not gonna break your heart, Alex, I won’t…” He splutters for the right words and Alex tilts her head at him – a habit she’s picking up from Maggie – a bemused smile pulling at her lips. “I won’t permit it.”

Alex jumps slightly when several bottles clink down onto the table, signaling Kara and Maggie’s return from the bar.

“Vet me as much as you need to, Winn. But you’re right. I’m not gonna break her heart. I love her too much for that.”

James awws and Kara squeals and Alex blushes and leans into her girlfriend and Winn frowns.

“Also you’re too terrifying and intimidating. I won’t break her heart because you won’t permit it.”

Winn smiles and nods once, heavily, approvingly.

“She’s passing the Schott Jr. tests so far, Alex.”

“Well that’s a relief, because she’s taking me home tonight and there’s nothing your drunk ass can do about it.”

James whoops and Kara groans laughingly and Maggie catches Winn as he starts stumbling off his stool.

“We’ll save the interrogation for another time,” he tells her as he pats her hand drunkenly, and Maggie laughs gently as she sets him upright.

“I love how much you love her, Winn. I really do.”

“Good. Because it – I – I uncharacteristically have no witty retort. Just – good.”

“Yeah. Yeah, it is.”