“You don’t.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I really don’t want to argue with you.”
“All right.”
Her tone was frosty and I understood why. She felt like she was being shut down, unable to give her opinion on my relationship and love life. She’d wanted me to meet someone; she just hadn’t wanted it to be a biker.
“There’s a party tonight at the Blue Angels’ clubhouse,” I said, offering her the olive branch. “I hope you come.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“You’re breaking my heart, you know?” I said softly.
“Okay.” She sighed. “I’ll be there. Even though I don’t understand.”
“But you love me anyway?”
“Always and forever, soul sister. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
I smiled. “Will Mark be able to come?”
“He’s got a work thing. But I promise we’ll have you over soon. You and Colt.”
Something unfurled inside of me. I’d have Shelly and the Blue Angels. I didn’t want them at odds. I wanted Shelly comfortable, and if she saw how the Blue Angels treated me, then she might change her mind about what I had gotten myself into.
“Can’t wait to see you,” I said. “It’s been too long.”
“Way too long.”
“See you soon,” I said, hanging up.
I took a quick shower and changed into a black halter dress that didn’t conceal my bandage. I pulled my hair into a loose side braid and just as I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup, Colt walked into the bathroom.
His gaze raked over me. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile, my eyes still on my reflection so I didn’t poke my eye out with the mascara wand. “What did Zip want?”
“Wanted to talk about Joni,” he said.
“What about Joni?”
“About when she goes back to work. He wants a brother to drive her to and from her shift. Stay at the hospital while she’s there.”
“That’s overkill, don’t you think?” I asked. I shoved the wand back in its tube and screwed it shut.
“She lives alone, which I hate. She’s staying at the clubhouse for the next little while, which she’ll completely balk at, knowing her. I know she won’t like having a brother dogging her heels, but I’ll be damned if I give Dev a chance to pull some shit while she’s at work.”
I didn’t ask if he was capable of that—if I could conceive it, then it was possible. After all, he’d dropped Richie’s tortured body at the Blue Angels’ clubhouse and done a drive by on Blue Angels’ territory. I didn’t think there was much he wouldn’t do to get his point across.
“I’m gonna call another one of our chapters,” he said, looking thoughtful. “I need more men at our backs. We’ve got a lot of older brothers—men from my dad’s time, but they’re not up for this kind of shit.”
“I didn’t know there were more members,” I said. “Will I get to meet them?”
“Eventually.” He leaned against the bathroom counter. “Zip volunteered to be the one to drive Joni and sit at the hospital.”