“Sounds like you’re a good friend.”
“I am pretty awesome,” I say, making him grin.
He holds out his hand. “Michael. And that wild kid with the pigtails?—”
“The little girl rapping Big Sean?”
I hold back a chuckle at his sigh.
“That’s the one. My daughter watchedFist Fightwith her aunt last week, and she hasn’t stopped singing it since.”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. I know exactly what movie and scene he’s talking about. Midas and I watched it ourselves a few weeks ago.
“My sister’s dead to me now. Do you have any idea what it’s like, getting a call from your child’s daycare, only to be told your kid keeps telling her teacher she ‘don’t give a fuck’?”
I can’t hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing. I laugh so hard that tears run down my cheeks, and my sides start to hurt. When I finally get myself under control, I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath.
“I’m so sorry.”
He waves me off with a wry grin. “There are worse things in life than making a beautiful woman laugh.”
I blush, realizing he’s flirting with me. I’m not sure I know what to do with that.
“You want to go grab some ice cream once they’re done playing? There’s a little place around the corner that my daughter’s obsessed with.”
I bite my lip, not sure what the protocol is here. Blade never said I couldn’t see someone outside the club. That was a rule in Chaos Demons, so I’m not sure if it’s the same here and I honestly never thought to ask. What might be an issue, though, is taking Alex somewhere with a complete stranger. I try not to think about Midas. It wouldn’t be fair to this guy to lead him on, but I can only pine away for Midas for so long before life passes me by.
“I have to get Alex back soon. I’m sorry.”
“Nah, I get it. You come here often?” He grimaces the second the words leave his mouth. “Tell me I didn’t just say that?”
I bite back a smile. “Say what?” I ask, all innocent.
He grins and reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a black leather wallet. Flipping it open, he takes out a business card and tucks the wallet back in his pocket before handing me the card.“How about a rain check? And if ice cream isn’t your thing, how about coffee or dinner?”
I take the card and swallow, curling my fingers around it before sliding it into my pocket. I don’t say I’ll call him because I don’t know if I will. But being asked out makes something flutter in my stomach. It’s been a long time since I felt butterflies. Midas doesn’t count because he’s made me feel things neither of us wants to admit.
“Thanks, Michael.”
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Oh shoot, I’m sorry.” I hesitate for a second. He’s not part of the club, so I don’t need to give him my club name. For once, I can just be me—a woman wondering what the future might look like if I put myself out there. “It’s Hazel, Hazel Burton.”
We talk for a little longer before I call Alex over and tell him it’s time to go home. I say goodbye to Michael, who gets roped into pushing his daughter on the swings, and head across the grass to the road. I pull my phone out, ready to call a cab, when I see the club truck parked on the side of the road. I walk closer, wondering if Dice came back to pick us up. I’m surprised when I get closer and see Midas behind the wheel.
“What are you doing here? Did you close early?”
“Get in the truck, Legs,” he snaps, and I freeze. I won’t make a scene in front of Alex, so I bite my tongue to the point I can taste blood. Instead, I pick Alex up and open the back door, relieved to find his booster seat is still in there. Once he’s buckled in, I climb in beside him. That’ll piss Midas off even more, but I’m not in the mood for his bullshit today. He snarls something, but I miss it as I slam the door closed, and he drives off before I even have my seatbelt on.
I look out the window and swallow a sigh. Why does he always have to show up and ruin everything?
He doesn’t say a word the whole way back to the club. Not even when we park and I get out and turn around to grab Alex. Midas nudges me out of the way and lifts Alex out of the back seat. Alex is asleep, and Midas holds him over his shoulder as he starts walking toward the clubhouse without me.
I stare at his retreating back, biting back the urge to scream. With a huff, I grab Alex’s bag and sling it over my shoulder, slamming the truck door closed before heading up the hill after him.
The closer I get to the saloon, the more my stomach cramps, and I have to stop and take stock of things. I look around at this place I call home and am hit with a wave of something dark and ugly. And with it comes the dawning realization that this place truly doesn’t feel like home anymore.
“Hey, Legs, you good?” Circus asks as he walks toward me.
