Fifteen minuteslater I was headed back to North La Playa. It was a good thing I was such a seasoned rider, because my head was completely in the clouds and I’d have been a danger to myself if it weren’t so instinctive.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sofia had said about Paige. What if it were time to take a chance again? I mean, I wasn’t planning on being alone forever. Maybe it would be good for Lily if I had a woman around for her to look up to. Not just some biker chick but an actual lady.
I’d made up my mind to find Paige and see if she wanted to have dinner or something when I felt my phone buzz with a text message. At a stoplight, I took my phone out and read it. It was Chalupa.
U need to get to the shop ASAP. Padre is losing it.
All thoughts of Paige, Lily, and Sofia left my mind in an instant. First and foremost, I was a member of Outlaw Souls. We were brothers, and if one of us needed help, that was all that mattered. My reply was simple.
On my way.
Sixteen
Paige
I was digging through a box looking for the blouse my mother gave me last year for Christmas. I hadn’t fully unpacked since moving in, and really didn’t go out to the kinds of places where you had to dress up.
As I was throwing the contents of the box onto the bed, my mind started to wander to that makeout session with Ryder. What the hell was I going to do about him? Rocky had said he was bad news, and the last thing I needed was to get emotionally involved with some biker.
Sure, Rocky wasn’t the most reliable source on the planet, and Ryder didn’t seem like just “some biker.” He was smart and funny and seemed like a really nice person.
A really nice person who does all kinds of illegal stuff, Paige. You need to stay away.
But as many times as I told myself to leave it alone, I always found myself wanting more.
“Found it!” I grabbed the cobalt blue top and took it into the bathroom. I was meeting my parents and Bailey for dinner up in Verde Hills to celebrate my mom’s birthday. I hadn’t seen them since that day with Bailey and I was definitely not looking forward to the judgmental questions that were sure to come.
“Things are going great, Mom and Dad. I got sent home from my waitress job after I tried to serve soy sauce with pancakes because I was thinking about this hot biker. Oh, and I ended up making out with him later that day.” I grinned at myself in the mirror, imagining the conversation. “The apartment? Oh yeah, it’s fabulous. It’s like a combination dispensary and night club. But at least the prostitutes are quieter than the sorority girls who come to party.”
Part of me wondered if I shouldn’t just pack up and go home. I fluffed up my hair, smacked my lips to distribute my lipstick, and grabbed my purse. I had to get to the club by seven, and LA traffic is the pits.
* * *
“You’re late.”My mother was sitting in her usual spot at our usual table at the Los Verdes Country Club. The clock over the bar said 7:07 pm.
I went over and kissed her on the cheek, getting a whiff of her martini. “I’m sorry, Mom. The freeway was a mess.”
“You wouldn’t need to take the freeway if you didn’t live in that place.”
“Give her a break, Mom. She lived on campus at SC. You act like she never left home before.” Bailey was having what appeared to be a sparkling water. My guess, though, was that she’d spiked it with some vodka when Mom and Dad weren’t looking. She learned that little trick from me.
I pulled the chair out and slid in between my parents. I kissed my dad on the cheek and put my napkin on my lap just as Miranda came up.
“Good to see you, Paige. Can I get you started with a drink?”
I ordered a glass of wine and then asked my mom about tennis, what was new with her friends, and other small chit chat. The whole thing took about ten minutes and then I was out of things to say.
This was going to be a long-ass dinner.
* * *
I hada mouthful of linguini carbonara when it happened. Honestly, I was surprised it took so long.
“So, Paige.” My dad cleared his throat. “How is your little adventure going? Have you found a job saving the world yet?” He had the audacity to chuckle at his perceived wittiness.
My mother wiped her mouth and set her napkin down before getting up. “Excuse me a moment.” She then went in the direction of the ladies’ room.
“What’s with her?” I asked, hoping to change the conversation.
