“She’s going to be okay,” Darcy said. “Flesh wound, right?”
I nodded. I needed to text Joni to see how she was doing. My phone was still in Colt’s room and just as I was about to hop off the stool to go and grab it, Joni walked into the clubhouse with Zip behind her.
Her sorrel hair was pulled into a low side ponytail and she was wearing black yoga pants, flip-flops, and a pink tank top that revealed her bandaged arm.
I jumped off my stool and went to her immediately and gently embraced her. “How are you feeling?”
“Dopey,” she said with a smile. Her blue eyes looked a little glassy, but she wasn’t swaying. “I took some painkillers before we came over.”
Zip came to stand by her and I noticed he was carrying a duffel bag.
I pointed to it. “What’s that?”
“Joni’s shit,” he said. “She’ll be staying in a spare room at the clubhouse for a few days.”
“Why?” I asked in confusion.
“Colt will explain,” Zip said. He looked at Joni for a long moment and then took her bag out of the room and headed for the stairs.
“What was that?” I whispered.
“Nothing.” She grabbed my coffee and took a sip. Nodding, she added, “Just the way I like it.”
I took her hand and led her to the kitchen counter. “Sit,” I commanded, gesturing to one of the stools.
Joni plopped her butt down and then Darcy set a plate of food in front of her. “Eat every bite,” she commanded.
“Do I need to feed you?” Rachel asked. “I will, you know. I’ll even play the airplane game to make it more fun if that’s what you need me to do.”
“Why are you guys treating me like an invalid?” she demanded. “I’m a nurse. I know how minor this is.”
As if to prove her point, she picked up her fork with her dominant hand, which was also the arm that was bandaged, and scooped up a bite of scrambled eggs.
She ate a few bites and then set her fork down. “See? I’m fine.”
Zip came back down the stairs and walked over to stand behind Joni. “Your stuff is in last room on the right. Third floor.”
“Thanks,” she said.
He stared at her for one long moment and then nodded before joining the guys.
“Dear Lord,” Allison muttered.
“Right? Is it too early for cocktail hour? I need to know everything that look just meant,” Darcy said.
“Nothing. It meant nothing,” Joni said before going back to eating her food.
I leaned closer to peer at her and said aloud so the girls could hear, “Her cheeks aren’t even red. She’s literally gotnotells. Forget cocktail hour. Let’s drive to Vegas and make Joni play poker.”
“I don’t know how to play poker,” Joni said.
“I’ll teach you.”
“I don’t know how to play either,” Rachel said with a pout.
“Girls’ poker night,” I said. “Our next hang out. I’m gonna turn you guys into hustlers.”
“You mean you know how to cheat?” Darcy asked in amusement.