“One for you and one for me.”
I leaned closer to her, “I’ve never had any kind of alcohol. I’m not sure now is the best time to try something like that.”
“One beer isn’t going to get you drunk. Just give it a try. If you don’t like it, don’t drink it.”
The young guy returned with a bottled water and two bottles of beer. I looked at him curiously when he uncapped our beer bottles at the table. “So you know it hasn’t been tampered with,” he explained. Tampered with?
Reese waited until he left and explained further, “People can put drugs into drinks that will make you really sleepy and have a hard time remembering what happened. They’re usually called date-rape drugs or roofies. Rule number one in a bar or club, never, ever take your eyes off your drink or leave it unattended. By the time you realize what’s happened, it’s already too late. Now, give that a try.” She gestured to the beer bottle in front of me.
I was just about to take my very first sip of beer when Dash and Duke sat down at our table. “Hello, ladies,” Dash said.
“Hello,” I awkwardly replied.
Duke cleared his throat, “I wanted to apologize for tackling you earlier today. I was just following orders and trying to contain you. In all fairness, you gave as good as you got. No hard feelings?” He extended his hand toward me.
Deciding that I needed to have friends around the clubhouse and not enemies, I placed my hand in his and shook, “No hard feelings.”
“Do you two want to shoot a game of pool with us?” Duke asked.
“Sure, as soon as Ember gives that beer a try. It’s her first, ever,” Reese told them.
I glared at her. They did not need to know that. She stuck her tongue out at me.
“No shit?” Dash commented. “What are you waiting for?”
“Uh, nothing I guess.” Trying to ignore the fact that everyone was staring at me, I lifted the bottle to my lips and tipped it back like I had seen others doing. I took a large gulp and quickly swallowed.
I completely extended my arm, the bottle dangling from my fingertips, “Gross!! Somebody take it away!”
They all started laughing. Dash reached out and gently took the bottle from my outstretched hand. “It’s an acquired taste.”
“Not for me. I have no interest in ever tasting that crap again.”
“All right, grab your water and let’s get a game started,” Dash said.
I sidled up next to Reese, “I don’t know how to play pool. Can you show me?”
I must not have said it as quietly as I intended because Dash was the one to answer. “I can. You can be on my team and Duke and Reese on the other team.”
He explained the rules of the game to me, which seemed fairly simple. Next, he helped me pick out a cue stick and showed me how to hold it. I suggested he take the first turn so I could watch how he made a shot.
When it was my turn, I went for the easiest shot on the table. Leaning over the table, I held the cue stick like I had been shown and took aim. I tensed when I felt a firm body at my back and warm breath next to my ear. A shiver went through my body when I heard his raspy voice softly giving me instructions. After I made the shot and sent a ball into one of the pockets, I felt Dash’s lips on the shell of my ear, “Well done, beautiful.”
I felt myself blush and murmured, “Thanks,” before quickly turning my face away from him. I didn’t want him to see how he was affecting me.
We played a few more games of pool. Dash continued to stand close to me, whispering things in my ear and touching me every now and again. His proximity was making my stomach feel funny, but I kind of liked it. I kept playing for as long as I could, but when it got to the point that I was going to fall asleep standing there, I said, “This has been a lot of fun, but I’m going to head to bed. It was quite a day for me and I’m exhausted.”
Reese yawned and stretched her arms over her head, “Me, too. Catch ya later.” She looped her arm through mine and started toward our room. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
***
The next morning, I joined Ranger for breakfast in the common room. He asked me if I had any questions about the motorcycle club. I did, actually. I wanted to know about prospects, so I asked him.
After he explained the role of prospects to me, he filled me in on all the things he had planned for the newest batch. “I think I’m going to have Pete shine all my shoes later today.” He leaned in closer to me, “You got any shoes you want shined?”
I was laughing so hard I almost choked on the bite of eggs I had just put in my mouth. That was how Phoenix found me, gasping for breath and sputtering eggs. “I was going to ask if I could join you, but I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea now.”
Ranger answered since I was still trying to compose myself, “I was just telling her how I like to break in the prospects. I’m going to have them shine her shoes when they do mine.” Ranger smiled brightly.
