“You’re… squeezing me,” she finally whispered, and I forced myself to loosen my arms, finally stepping back, but I kept my hands on her arms, because I needed that connection still.
“Fuck, I missed you,” I whispered right back to her, feeling like a pussy for even admitting it, especially after we only did it once. Once. I was like some pathetic obsessive schoolboy idiot.
“I did too. That’s weird, right? I’m weird, I know. I have to finish Rocket’s pics today, but then did you want us to work on the club thing?”
I blinked, my mind catching up with her words, but before I could hiss at her about calling herself weird, Rocket’s asshole head popped up again.
“Club thing?”
“None of your business,” I replied, grabbing Caroline’s backpack and taking it to her desk for her.
“But if it’s club stuff…”
“VP business, man. Just do your thing, so I can do mine. Can you do that?”
He rolled his eyes, and masked up, disappearing into his booth, where he was working on a custom job for Jeff, who’d been in touch since his last visit, and had arranged what he wanted. Seems when you’re rich, you can just afford to ship the replacement parts to the spray place, and get them sprayed, so you can swap it over later when it’s convenient.
“You seem cranky today, Harley, what’s going on?” Caroline set up her laptop, and dragged Rocket’s file over, and then left it all to come back to me.
“Dunno. Lots going on, I guess. I really did miss you though, and it’s not weird, and neither are you. Is your cousin okay?”
She practically swooned at me, and why the fuck anything I said would do that, I had no idea.
“I can’t believe you cared enough to ask. She’s fine. I mean, she’s not. She’s a mess. She’s angry, she’s betrayed, she’s… the monster got her best friend, and business partner, pregnant.”
Fuck. Who the fuck does that to someone?
“What a wanker. Does he need an asskicking?”
Caroline gasped, and Rocket reappeared like a bad smell.
“Whose ass are we kicking?”
“Nobody, go away.”
He groaned, tossing his mask aside, and approaching us, when he should have been doing the damn opposite.
“I’m serious. This is a private conversation, Rocket.”
He leaned his butt against my counter. “Asskickings are club biz. You know we love that shit.”
Caroline looked edgy now he was over here with us. He was making her uncomfortable, and wasn’t this just another sign of how she wouldn’t take to my club brothers?
“Rocket, fuck off.”
He grinned, turning to Caroline. “I’m serious, love. You’re family, and if someone’s bugging you, we’ve got your back.”
“It’s not me! It’s my cousin’s ex. He’s… we shouldn’t be talking about beating him up, Harley!”
“He got another woman up the duff!”
She started to giggle, but I heard Rocket curse, and I just knew the fucker wasn’t going away anytime soon.
“Rocket. Can you do me a favour? Can you take this,” I handed him a twenty, “and go grab us something from the coffee shop? I promise, if there’s any kicking of asses, you’re top of the list, okay?”
He rolled his eyes, and left the shop, thank fuck. He probably realised I was on the last fucking edge of my nerves, and he needed to not piss me off. Working together would suck if we fell out. Another reason you don’t go into business with friends. Hell, Caroline’s cousin seems to have learned that lesson the hardest way possible.
“He’s getting coffee? I could just have one from the machine. You stock them for me, after all.”
