“Listen, I need to go deal with this in the back. You should go home.” I led her out of the bar.
“I’ll wait for you.”
“No. This thing between us is over. Has been since last winter. Why do you think I don’t text?”
“I just thought you were busy.” Her eyes glimmered, and I felt like a dick.
“I am.” I opened the entrance door.
“Is she back in your life?” Justine wasn’t the smartest chick, but she seemed to know the truth. “She is. I know she is.”
“You take care.” I waved her out.
“Right.” She left without throwing a fit. Small miracles.
I trudged to the back office where my dad was waiting. My ribs were sore, but I didn’t think any were fractured. My goddamn lip felt ten times bigger, and I was sure I had a black eye.
Fuckin’ Hustler. He’d always been more emotional than the rest of us.
When I entered, I wasn’t surprised Lady M was inside, along with Piper. My little sister was cleaning up Hustler’s bloody face. She was studying to be a registered nurse and would graduate next year. She’d be the club’s on-call nurse and would assist Stitch, our doctor.
“The last time you boys went after each other like this was when Levi stupidly thought he could get away with taking True Blue out for a joyride.” My mother shot her intimidating stink eye at me. “Karma has a child?”
“Fuck.” I lowered onto the sofa. Hustler truly wanted to fuck me over.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
9
Karma
I gave it my all as I sang “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrissette in the KLMC bar. It was the song I had listened to ad nauseam while pregnant with Nova. The tears I cried back then could have filled the Mississippi River.
After tonight, I would never listen to Alanis’s song again or sing it or shed another tear for Abe.
I was relaxed after several drinks, belting out the angry lyrics. As I poured my heart into them, I imagined Abe sitting at a table watching my performance. He stared at me with a smug expression, not giving a shit about my heartache, just as he didn’t give a shit about me.
No problem, I didn’t give a shit about him either.
Okay, the whiskey made me believe I could forget about Abe Knight, but it would be impossible with his daughter being a constant reminder of him.
I dug my nails into my palms as the song ended, then stumbled back to my table. People clapped, but it wasn’t cheering and whistling like the old ladies would get, primarily Angel. She picked the best songs and stole the show every time.
Me? I didn’t even know if I could carry a tune. As long as I had enough Jack Daniels in me, I didn’t give a fuck one way or the other.
All eyes were on me as I sat in my chair.
“I’ve never heard that song before,” Tara said. “Is it meaningful to you?”
I cocked my head.
“Really, Tara?” Maddy shot her a look.
“No, it’s okay.” I leaned forward in my chair. Tara, or Roja as everyone else called her, was one of few people I knew who spoke directly instead of pussyfooting around stuff. “I’m actually curious if he’s thinking of me when he fucks his woman.”
“Oh boy,” Jaynee muttered beside me. “Babe, I think we should get you home. Or better yet, just stay here at the club.”
“No. I want to go home.”