She shoved the door open—and slammed it shut behind her.
Fuck.
I'd ruined everything. I'd been trying to protect her, but instead I'd … I'd insulted her.
"Fuck," I grunted, and dragged a hand down my face.
17
Luna
Idid not want to be here.
I tried so hard not to glare at the bright colours and giddy noises in the garden behind the clubhouse, tried not to grind my teeth as the bearded chef flirted with ChaCha and grilled meat and vegetables on the massive brick barbecue.
There were more bikers in the Alpha Knights club than I'd realised—I'd only met the ones who lived in the compound. There were others who lived outside it with their families, or alone, preferring solitude. They'd brought their families today, so kids ran around the long patch of grass, playing a game and screaming like banshees when they lost. I tried not to begrudge them their happiness.
"Here," Jessia said, bustling over to me with a bright smile on her round face and a paper plate filled with waffles, cream, and chocolate held out to me.
"I thought this was a barbecue," I remarked, but accepted the plate. "Aren't there supposed to be sausages and burgers?"
"Well, yeah," she replied with a laugh, "but those come after the mostimportantfood groups. Speaking of most important, I brought you this."
She held up a pink plastic wine glass that had something clear and bubbly inside, a few raspberries floating at the top of the liquid.
"I'll put it on this table you're brooding against," she offered, her eyes bright. "Want to tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," I replied, and used the plastic fork balanced on my plate to cut an edge of crispy waffle, filling my mouth. I couldn't be expected to talk if I was eating, could I?
"I thought you might say that," Jessia agreed easily. "But I'm not the only one who's noticed you're a little … surly today. I'm just the first line of defence; ChaCha and Lynn will press you for answers. They're very forceful in their friendship."
"I've noticed," I replied dryly. "Don't worry about me, though, I'm just feeling edgy. You know, being around so many people."
Jessia's smile didn't slip; she patted my arm. "Whatever you say, love. But don't say I didn't warn you about those two battle axes."
I couldn't help but laugh; it was a good description.
"Whenever you're ready to talk, come find me. I'm an awful listener, but I try."
Her humour coaxed another laugh out of me. "Thanks."
"No problem." Her warm eyes glittered. "And good luck."
"Thanks," I repeated, but drawling this time.
I spotted Lynn, ChaCha, and Vienna across the garden near the buffet table, along with a short, dark-haired woman in a very revealing dress. Lynn and ChaCha gave me ominous waves; Vienna was too busy cuddling up to her mate, Guardian, tonotice me; but the new woman gave me a beaming, enthusiastic smile and waved like a madwoman. She was cute; maybe a little crazy, but cute. I waved back.
They let me eat my waffle and drink what turned out to be Prosecco, but the second my paper plate was clear, Isensedthem, the side of my face burning and tingling.
"Oh, here we go," I muttered, half laughing, half wincing.
I'd never really had girlfriends before; I'd been friends with a few of the artists who shared my studio building, and sometimes we caught the bus into town for drinks on a weekend, but mostly it was me, Dad, and Astrid. Astrid could be fierce and interrogatory in her own right, but there was only one of her. Four women prowled across the garden towards me.
Well, the little brunette woman skipped and waved at anyone she passed. But the other three prowled for sure.
"Alright, Luna,spill,"ChaCha ordered the second she reached me, her purple hair straightened to a deadly spill over her shoulders and her bronze skin gleaming in the evening sun.
"There's nothing to spill," I replied, giving her a baffled smile.