“Not yet. She had the pit open for a charity race. Some kids were going all out with go-karts.”
“No shit?” I mutter with a chuckle. Who’d have known she’d end up doing so much for the community, but she’s always got her hat in helping someone, especially kids.
Torch comes to stand beside us. “I can’t believe you have an ol’ lady now. I thought you’d always be a man whore.”
My shoulders jump in an easy shrug. “I didn’t plan it. She came out of nowhere, and I couldn’t let her go.”
“I’m glad you weren’t too stubborn and gave in. We could all see it.” His lips turn up barely moving, but I know him well enough to notice it. “Hell, some of us even had a bet going on a few years back that she’d be the one for you.”
With a snort, I roll my eyes. “Oh yeah? I call bullshit.”
His head tips, a challenge shining in his gaze. “Hey Nightmare?” he shouts and a moment later Night is in the midst of our makeshift group.
“Yeah?” the broody fucker grumbles, beer firmly in his grip.
“I told you she’d be the bitch that locked O down. Now pay up, you owe me two hundred bucks.”
“What? It’s been nearly two years ago since we decided that bet!”
“Exactly, and it happened. Pay up,” Torch says a bit too cheerily, and my jaw drops.
“How the fuck did you know?” I turn to him and watch Nightmare dig out two bills from his wallet.
He shrugs. “We always bet on shit; you know how it is.”
“I get that, but how did you know it would be Cherry?”
“Because...” He pauses, putting his winnings away. “You always went back to her. Mercy was begging for your dick left and right, and you had all these other one-night stands.”
“Yeah?”
“You always found your way back, and whether you knew it or not, she was the one. You may’ve been a dumb, blind kid back then, but she’s had love shining in her eyes for you for the longest time. I knew if a bitch ever captured your love and affection, it’d be her; she’d earn that spot.”
“And she did,” I admit.
He nods in agreement, repeating me. “She sure as fuck did.”
Shaking my head, my chest rumbles with a laugh. “Well, why in the hell didn’t you let me in on all this sooner?”
“As I said, you were young and dumb. Besides, you forget I’ve had an ol’ lady at one time. You have to figure them out for yourself.” He flashes his teeth quickly in a grin, and I smile back. This fucker knew all along. Doesn’t matter though. I eventually came to my senses. The important thing is that Cherry’s all mine.
Chaos leans over the bar top as he and Frost busily set new shots down in front of everyone.
“Thanks,” we each mutter.
“I’m glad y’all got things worked out,” he comments, taking a sip from his mason jar full of moonshine.
“I have to say, I thought you’d be the one to vote against Cherry and me.”
His brow jumps. “Kid, I’ve known the entire time that she was in love with you. What do you think all that was about each time you’d find us together and she was all emotional? It damn sure wasn’t me she was crying over.”
My brow wrinkles. “I thought she hurt herself...”
He snorts. “You’ve got a lot to learn about your ol’ lady. Cherry rarely shows weakness. She lets everything slide off her shoulders, ‘cept when it comes to you.”
“So, this whole time you weren’t trying to come between us?”
He smirks. “No. There was never a doubt in my mind whom she was in love with. I knew it was you before she ever came out and admitted it to you. Cherry is my friend; that’s all she’s ever been. I tried to tell you that.”