“It doesn’t matter. You’re still underage,” I answer, leaving no room for objection in my tone. “Moses know you’re here?”
She crosses her arms, matching my energy with sass. “Who do you think drove me?”
The tension between us is thick enough to cut. Tate’s looking back and forth between us, confusion clear on his face. Ozzie’s stopped mid-bite of his burger. Even Zoe’s staring in puzzled interest.
“Uh… everything okay, kids?” Mick asks slowly, setting down the glass. “Seems like there’s some tension here. This was just a Cherry Coke, by the way, Silver. No alcohol involved.”
I realize how this looks—me storming over, getting in Solana’s face about a damn Coke. I’ve come across like someoverbearing asshole with a personal stake in everything she does.
…which makes no sense considering, as far as everybody knows, we’re cordial at best. We’re barely on a first name basis.
If only everybody knew what a lie that is.
I force myself to draw a breath, dialing myself down a notch. “Everything’s fine. Just… just making sure nothing bad’s happening. I’m… uh, heading home anyway.”
Not a second later, Moses appears from the back office. He claps Ozzie on the back as he passes him up and mentions how he’s starving. Tom called a break during their meeting and now he needs some fuel.
He joins us at the bar counter, tipping his head at the Texas Pike beer bottles on the wall behind Mick.
“Hey, Sol, change of plans,” he says. “Can’t drive you to school after all. Club business came up.”
“I can take her,” Tate pipes up. “If you don’t mind riding on the back of my bike.”
Solana’s smile almost returns as she considers his offer.
But I’m already ready to dead that idea on the spot.
The thought of Solana’s arms wrapped around Tate, her body pressed against his as they ride, makes me see red. Before I can even try to act casual, I’m objecting.
“No. I’ll do it.”
Everybody glances over at me. I scramble for an explanation that doesn’t sound completely crazy.
“I’ll take her in my truck. It’s right outside. She babysits my kids anyway, least I can do.”
Moses shrugs, oblivious to the undercurrents. “Alright, cool. Thanks, brother. That good with you, Sol?”
She’s glaring at me, barely containing her irritation. Her arms are still crossed, the energy she exudes making it clear howshe really feels. But she looks between me and Moses like she’s weighing her options anyway. Finally, she says, “It’s fine.”
Moses heads back to the office with his fresh beer. Tate’s already pulling out his phone, the moment forgotten, probably moving on to his next conquest.
Meanwhile, Solana’s still eyeing me as if she’s tempted to have it out right here and now.
…in front of everyone.
I clear my throat and say, “Let’s go.”
We head for the door, her walking slightly ahead as if she can’t bear to be near me. But it’s Mick who really holds my attention as we leave.
He’s watching us go with a curious expression on his weathered face. It reads like somebody solving a puzzle.
The old-school bartender sees and hears everything. If there’s something going on in the club, he’s usually one of the first to know about it.
The second we’re alone in the truck, Solana turns on me.
“You’re jealous.”
“I’m tired. You said you’ve got class?”
