“Yeah, but you take it like a champ. He likes that about you.”
Toad snorted. “Sure.”
“I bet the bottle is behind the bar if it’s not locked up in his room or office.”
“Let’s clean this shit up, and then we’ll go grab it. I want to see his face when I give it to him. Bet he thought it would take me all afternoon to figure it out.”
Fifteen minutes later, I stood next to Toad as he knocked on the office door. Grim was involved in a heated discussion with Rael and someone else as the door opened, and Mammoth stared us down. He was the VP and the biggest guy in the club and had at least two hundred pounds of muscle on Toad and me.
“What the fuck you prospects want?” he barked, making us both jump.
Toad held up the bottle of whiskey. “Got Grim his liquor.”
Mammoth’s lips twitched as he read the label. “Prospect found your bourbon, pres.”
“Well, let them in. I’m thirsty.”
Mammoth stood back as we walked inside, shutting the door behind us. Grim’s grin widened as he ticked his head at the bottle of his favorite liquor.
Toad placed the bottle on Grim’s desk with a confident grin. “Bourbon as requested.”
Grim reached for the bottle and pulled out a couple of glasses from a drawer to his right. He filled one for Rael and Mammoth and then tilted the bottle back, tossing down a large swallow. Toad appeared amused, but as I caught the brief flash of concern on Rael’s face, I knew something wasn’t right. The tension in the room escaped me when we first entered but now I could tell that the discussion had been serious before our arrival.
Mammoth ticked his head toward the door. “Get lost. We’ll text when we need you.”
Toad didn’t hesitate. He was gone before I could blink twice. My gaze met Rael’s, and he gave a slight shake of his head. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t my place to ask about it or concern myself with it.
Someday when I patched in, all of this secretive shit would end, and I wouldn’t feel like I was on the outside so often.
Out in the hall, I pulled out my phone as it vibrated. Stefanie’s name popped up with a text. A stupid grin stretched across my face as I decided to call her instead of texting back.
Dialing her number, I walked outside to grab a little privacy.
“Hi, Shadow,” she greeted with that silky, sexy voice that I adored.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“Yours, too. Makes my whole day.” I wasn’t remotely kidding.
“I have to study all evening,” she admitted with a sigh. “Finals are later this week before Christmas break. Chemistry and AP English have entire study guides I need to finish.”
“You worried I won’t understand?”
“No,” she admitted with a sigh. “I just wanted to spend time with you, and I can’t.”
“Aw, now that just made me smile.”
“Even if you miss me?”
“I always miss you, babe. Every single minute of the day that we’re not together.” It was cheesy as fuck but not a lie.
“Will you text me later?”
“Of course. There’s a party at the Crossroads tonight, and it’s about to get crazy. I’ll probably be helping drunken members to their rooms and cleaning up empty bottles of booze all night.”
“Stay safe.”