“What?”
“How was the makeup sex with Boxer?”
I just smiled.
Freddy laughed. “Yeah, thought so. So, what’s your actual relationship status?”
“We haven’t technically labeled anything,” I began, “but he told me that you’re either in or out with the club. Either you become an Old Lady or you…”
“You do what I’m doing and screw around, and then go on your merry way.”
I grimaced.
“I’m just being honest.”
“Honestly crass,” I pointed out with a chuckle.
“Whatever. You hang with bikers long enough and you no longer watch what you say. I heard you were invited to Joni and Zip’s housewarming.”
“Who told—”
“Bishop. He likes pillow talk.”
“You and Bishop…is that a good thing?”
“For now.”
“You really don’t have any desire for more with him?”
“Nope.” She arched a brow. “You know you guys were the talk of the party, right?”
“We were?”
“Uh,yeah. The two of you disappeared for the rest of the night. Of course everyone was talking about you. They’re good people. Loyal. Protective of their own.” She paused, looking like she wanted to say more, but took a moment to gather her thoughts. “You remember what I told you, when Boxer brought you to Pinky’s?”
“About how women never stick around?”
She nodded. “They want to know if you have what it takes to stick around.”
I nibbled on my lip and then admitted, “He asked me to stay the night at his place after the party. He says he’s never had a woman stay over in his home before.”
“Did he now? This just got interesting.”
The waitress came back and set our food down in front of us. We dove in and our conversation was put on hold, but my head swirled with tumultuous thoughts.
“What does one bring to a biker’s house-warming?” I asked her.
“Normally, I’d say a nice bottle of liquor, but most of the Old Ladies are pregnant, so that seems like bad form.”
“Yeah, just a little bit,” I said with a laugh. “Perhaps a succulent. I’ve heard plants really liven up a space.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that too. If you can keep them alive.”
By the time I got home that afternoon, I still hadn’t heard from Boxer. I was concerned. Nothing good came from calls in the early morning hours, and I was sure it was the same with club business and whatever nefarious activities they were up to.
Working in a hospital emergency room, I was also acutely aware of the fact that people often died at night. I’d treated my fair share of gunshot wounds and drug overdoses, and most of them had been at night.
I set my purse onto the counter and then headed to the bedroom to change into workout clothes. A good run on the treadmill would help quiet my mind.