“What was that about?” Cobra asked.
“Lady M prepared food for Hope. Probably hotdish and cookies.” My mother had the biggest heart. She’d give the shirt off her back to help someone. She wasn’t always soft and sweet. Mess with her family, and her claws came out.
“I just wanted to say sorry for being a jerk.” Cobra put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m happy for you, but do you care about this woman? I mean, claiming her as your old lady is huge. Especially since you were a one-and-done guy.”
“It was never that way with Hope. I tried to date her, but she’d shoot me down.”
“Seriously?” Cobra’s eyebrows shot up. “No woman can resist a Knight.”
“Careful brother, lightning might strike you.” Buff sidled up beside me. “Don’t forget my girl left me for bigger and better things.” He gulped his bourbon.
“True.” Reign Rochester left Buff to take Manhattan by storm. Plain old North Dakota wasn’t enough for her. She wanted millions of people and skyscrapers. My brother had dealt with losing her better than I would have. “I’m surprised you mentioned her.”
Buff stared ahead, his jaw tight. “I don’t know. I’ve been having this weird dream about her. Don’t get me wrong, I have them frequently. But this one, I wake up in a cold sweat instead of having a wet dream.”
Cobra and I chuckled, but our brother seemed really bothered.
“You two were inseparable before she left. Maybe it’s like a sixth sense,” Cobra told him.
“Yeah, you should check up on her.” My phone buzzed in my hand—a text from my girl.
Hope: Hi
Hustler: Hey, how ya doing?
Hope: Ok
I watched the bubbles, waiting for more, but nothing came. She probably kept deleting the message.
“Maybe I’ll check up on her.” Buff dug his phone out of his pocket. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“How about you just call her.” Cobra snorted.
“Can’t. She changed her number over a year ago.” Buff messed around on his device. “We need a computer geek like Storm has.”
“Just call him if you need a favor. He owes us for all the help we’ve given him over the past year.” Cobra strutted away and threw a hand up. “I’m out. Someone relay the plan to the prospects.”
“I’m on it.” Bone saluted. He and Spectre were at the counter having a beer.
“What if she doesn’t want to hear from me?” Buff asked, keeping his eyes on his screen.
“What if she does?” I was done waiting on Hope.
Hustler: Where’s your shopping list, sweetheart?
The bubbles began again.
“We’d gone our separate ways, y’know. I’ve been with other women and she’s been with other men.”
I watched Buff after hearing the change in his voice. He’d let her go, set her free because she wanted more than what he could give her. It had taken a long time for him to move on with his life.
“Brother, you do what feels right. That’s all any of us can do.”
“You’re right.” He raised his gaze to mine. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good deal.” My phone vibrated.
“Who’s texting you?”