She beams at me. “Anytime.” She slips off her property patch and I do the same. Together, we lean against the bar and smile for her camera. We take a few shots and when she finds one that’s acceptable, she sends it to me.
“I’m so thirsty.” She slides her property patch on again and zips it up.
I turn to put mine back on too and come face-to-face with Amanda.
Shit.
I haven’t seen her in months. Our friendship has always ebbed and flowed so it’s not unusual. But I never told her about Gray and I getting together.
Her eyes widen as she slowly takes me in, her gaze sticking on the patch over my heart.
“Grinder? The old dude who got out of prison? You hooked up with him and he patched you?” Her shrill voice rises with each question.
While I lost interest in ever being patched after distancing myself from the club, Amanda never gave up hope that one of the guys would want her to stick around for more than a night.
Guilt prickles over me. But what could I do? Call her up to brag? I’ve been too busy worrying about the baby, moving, not having a job, and everything else going on in my life. Besides, Gray is my prize. Not the patch.
“We’re together, yes,” I finally answer, ignoring her obvious irritation.
“Well, I guess that explains why I haven’t heard from you in so long.”
The phone works both ways.
“Things have been a little hectic,” I answer. “I moved into Emily’s place.”
Her nose wrinkles. She’s never gotten along with Emily. “Seriously?”
I shrug.
Amanda sneers at Shelby. “So, what? You’re too good to hang around with the peasants now?”
Thankfully, Shelby has her back to us while she orders her drink and doesn’t seem to notice Amanda’s snide tone directed at her.
“Not at all. I didn’t realize you were here tonight.”
“Were you here for the raid?” she asks. “I heard about it and that’s why I came over. To help with the cleanup.”
“That was nice of you.” I glance around the main room. The furniture has been righted. Posters taped over the places where holes were punched in the walls. Debris swept away. A vast improvement from earlier. I hadn’t run into Amanda while I was fixing up this part of the clubhouse earlier. Maybe she was cleaning one of the bedrooms. “Everything got messed up pretty bad.”
She leans in closer. “I heard Sway and Tawny got arrested.”
That can’t be right. It’s so loud in here, I must have misunderstood. I ask her to repeat it and she does, her hot breath wafting over my cheek as she whisper-shouts in my ear.
“Holy crap. Really?”
Don’t think mean thoughts.
Don’t think mean thoughts.
It could’ve been Gray who was arrested for violating his parole, so I will not take pleasure in Sway and Tawny’s troubles. It’ll bring bad luck.
Amanda nods solemnly, although her mouth is twisted with barely restrained glee. Tawny’s never been nice to her either.
“Here ya go!” Something cold brushes my arm. I turn and Shelby’s holding out a champagne glass to me.
No. No. No.
Why hadn’t I come up with a prepared excuse sooner?
“What’s in it?” I ask carefully.
She shrugs and takes a sip. “Champagne, sugar cubes, and brandy? Somethin’ like that.”
“Oh, I’m watching my sugar.” I hand it to Amanda so fast, liquid rises dangerously close to the lip of the glass. Amanda shrugs and takes a long sip.
Shelby stares at me for a few seconds. “I try to avoid sugar when I’m on the road but since it’s my down time, I’m gonna indulge a lil’.”
“No, no, you should,” I insist.
Since I know my way around the bar, I slide behind it and grab a can of ginger ale. So I won’t seem out of place, I pour it into a champagne glass and drop a wedge of lime in it.
Shelby eyes me as I return. “You know ginger ale has sugar in it too.”
Nervous laughter bubbles past my lips. “So it does.”
Get it together. You’re the one making it obvious.
“Hey, I’m Shelby.” She nods at Amanda.
“Sorry,” I interrupt. “Shelby, this is my friend Amanda. Amanda—”
“Yeah, Rooster’s girl.” Amanda’s voice sounds closer to accusation than recognition. “I’ve seen you around.”
“Oh.” Shelby’s gaze flicks my way. “Okay. Nice to officially meet ya.” She sips her drink.
“You’re that singer who got kidnapped last summer, right?” Amanda asks.
Cold mortification slides down my spine. Jesus, Amanda. Really?
Shelby rolls her shoulders and lifts her chin. “That’s me. But I’d rather not talk about it. We’ve all had enough unpleasantness around here.”
“Serena!” Someone squeals my name. Two seconds later, a tall, slender, energetic body crashes into mine. I bump into one of the barstools to brace myself and catch her.
“Lala! Oh my God. Are you trying to knock me out?” Laughing, I pull her in for a longer hug. “How’ve you been, you nut?”