“Which is not onyou,” Buzz rushed to say.
“Okay.”
“You ever feeluncomfortable, you let me know,” Buzz said. “Okay?”
I bobbed myhead. “Okay, Buzz, thanks.”
Grip gave meanother apologetic smile, then he and Buzz walked out of the kitchen, and Imade my way back to my girls.
“What was thatall about?” Teagan asked.
“Oh my god,” Ibreathed out. “Buzz just made Grip apologize.”
“What the heckis going on?” Charleston asked.
“Right?” Cambrysaid. “It’s like Huck has opened up a can of feminism.”
I grabbed a shotglass full of tequila and raised it in the air. “To Huck and feminism.”
“To Hukinism!”Teagan corrected.
We all took ashot, then dissolved into giggles. My mother and the rest of the old ladieswalked in a few minutes later.
She headed myway and pulled me in for a hug. “Hey, baby, I didn’t know you were coming outhere.”
“It wasn’tplanned. How was girls’ night out?” I took in her little black dress andhigh-heeled booties. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks, baby.It was fun. Where’s Huck?”
“He’s outriding.”
“He rides?”
I bobbed myhead. “Apparently, he’s a hockey player by day, and a secret biker by night.”
Mom stroked mycheek. “Do you need to process?”
I bobbed my headagain.
She smiled,wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go to your dad’s office.”
I followed herdown the hall and we closed ourselves inside. She flopped into one of thechairs and I sat in the one facing her.
“I have to getthese shoes off,” she said, unzipping her boots. “My feet are on fire.”
“Where did yougo?”
“Blush.”
“I’m surprisedDaddy didn’t go with you.”
The club ownedthe popular nightclub downtown, but it was a meat market, so the women wereonly allowed to go when Dad, Mack, or Knight could accompany them. Actually,any of the officers were approved, but it had to be at least two officers, norecruits. Hatch wanted firepower covering their women.
She smiled.“Mack and Knight were with us, so he let me off my leash.”
I sighed, bitingback tears.
“Oh, honey, whatare you wrestling with?”
