“You can’t be fucking happy locked in a treehouse…” Rebel clasped her hands together and made a face, drew in a deep breath and started over. “You know why you’re scared ofyour own fucking shadow? Because you have no resources, no backup, no support, nothing to do, no one to talk to. I’d lose my fucking mind too.”
“Diesel is the nicest person I’ve ever met.”
Oh goddamn. Every motherfucker who heard that gaped at her. At first, CJ thought she was joking, but the earnestness on her face told him she wasn’t.
“If that motherfucker is the nicest person you’ve ever met, you’ve known fucking demons from the ninth circle of hell,” Rebel said.
“Maybe to you, but not to me,” Jana said.
“That’s all that matters, right, babe?” Kaia’s pointed look told Rebel to accept Jana’s answer. “How Jana sees the mansheintends to marry.”
“K-Kaia’s right,” Jana said.
“No, he isn’t,” Rebel insisted.
“Areyoubeing nice to her, Reb?” Kaia demanded.
Jana smiled at Kaia, then looked at Rebel. “As much as I appreciate your defense of me, Rebel,Dieselis a prince. He’s just been busy. So, um, I-I’ll find a table and wait for him.” She turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Rebel stared thoughtfully in the spot where Jana had stood.
“Babe–” Kaia started. “Ease up on her. She doesn’t need you breathing down her neck at the same time Diesel’s ignoring her.”
“All he ever does is ignore her,” Rebel said. “Now won’t be any different.”
“It’s your move then, Reb,” Narci said. “You following her to continue trying to clue her in?”
“Nope. Let her crash and burn. I’m fucking out of it,” she said, turned and lost herself in the crowd.
Two hours later, the party was in full swing. Uncle Christopher and Meggie had made the rounds and greeted everyone. Diesel’s other family members had arrived as well as more club girls, brothers, old ladies, wives, and children.
There were so many people that the party spilled into the parking lot, the side of the building between the clubhouse and the parking garage, and into the backyard.
Whenever Diesel found her, Jana noticed his distraction. She’d try to talk to him, but he’d walk away mid-sentence, drawn by his friends. Meggie brought Jana to Uncle Christopher’s table, where everyone was friendly to her. Uncle Mortician gave her his cell phone number and said to call him anytime. Uncle Val said the oddest things, even though Jana thought he was funny, especially when he asked if he held in a fart would he explode. Aunt Zoann playfully slapped him. Jana liked Uncle Christopher’s sister. She also liked Aunt Bunny. Lolly offered to take Jana shopping the next day, but she declined because Diesel had promised to do it.
Whenever Rebel came to the table, she ignored Jana. Maybe because of the moment between her and Kaia. She didn’t think Rebel noticed or would care, especially because Jana didn’t want him. She just wanted acknowledgment and kindness.
Meggie and Uncle Christopher allowed Rebel one beer, which seemed to satisfy her. The ebb and flow of the crowdinside the clubhouse allowed Jana to watch as Rebel went to the pool tables where CJ, Kaia and the other boys played at one table and Diesel and his friends played at another. It didn’t escape Jana how the club girls gave Rebel a wide berth. Then, the crowd picked up again and she lost track of both Rebel and Diesel.
When Meggie, Lolly, Aunt Zoann, and Aunt Bunny returned to the kitchen to get more pans of food to set out, Jana got up and trudged to the sunken pool area. Rebel had her back to Jana, dangling a hundred-dollar bill in front of Ryan. CJ tugged her hair, then handed her his cigarette. The other boys watched her every move. Even Kaia was mesmerized.
If Jana could’ve caught his eye, he would’ve helped her to insert herself into their circle. Alone, and with Reb at the center of attention, she didn’t know how.
Morose, she turned toward Diesel’s table and found him bending his head to hear the blonde girl who’d pushed her. Narci, the biker who reminded Jana of a particularly vicious john, made out with another girl. Torrin and Huck held pool cues, surrounded by pretty girls, some wearing just a thong, others barely dressed.
The thought of going to Diesel and he rejected her, embarrassed her, or physically hurt her, panicked Jana. He’d never hit her, but he’d never acted as if he hated her either.
“Well, well, well,” Tabitha sneered, stepping next to Jana, but glaring at Diesel. “Of course you have sluts around you. It’s your birthday. Cock suck heaven.”
“Hey, Tabitha,” Jana said, ignoring her words, just relieved to see a friendly face.
Tabitha started and snapped her brows together. She drew in a deep breath. “You’re still here?”
Why did the music and talking stop all of a sudden?
Jana glanced over her shoulder and found everyone staring their way. Uncle Christopher guided Meggie through the crowd and halted at the railings.
“Ain’t I told your motherfuckin’ ass to handle her, Diesel?” Uncle Christopher snapped.
