Figuring a long ride would help, I traveled all over Baton Rouge. I hit up spots I hadn’t seen in years. The ride eased my bad mood until I returned to my apartment to clean up.
Elle’s scent was in my sheets. Her snacks filled my fridge. Every corner of my safe space reminded me of her.
Eventually, I headed down to the clubhouse. The music was loud. The women were easy. My guys were in a wild mood.
Everyone was hooking up except York. He entertained the rejected sluts by talking about his house and potential pets. They swooned over his attention, but I sensed he’d go home alone.
So would I. Every time a club slut headed in my direction, I shook my head and jutted out my thumb to keep her moving.
Around eleven, a club slut’s boyfriend showed up to stake his claim on her pussy. He threw empty beer bottles around the clubhouse and threatened to kill everyone. I grabbed him by the back of his neck and dragged him out to the alley, where York and I kicked the shit out of him.
The violence didn’t distract me from the heavy feeling I’d been nursing since Elle and Sutter waved goodbye to me.
I realized I was depressed. This moody shit wasn’t me. I didn’t cling to negative feelings. I moved forward and fixed problems. If a bad situation had no solution, I ignored it and focused on other things.
But nothing could take my mind off Elle.
Later, after the other guys had left with their hookups, York and I stared at our beers and avoided going home. The clubhouse was quiet. The last waitress cleaned tables. The bartender cleared out the registers. The place was locked down. We really ought to be leaving.
“Afraid of your new place?” I asked York.
“My old apartment building was noisy. Though I had long wanted a quiet place, the house felt too quiet last night. I think a pet would help.”
“A pet means you need to go home regularly.”
“A house already means that. Shit won’t get done if I don’t show up.”
“True. Nova kept the house tidy when Exile was busy.”
York eyed me. “Elle’s a cool chick. And her kid is smart. He explained why certain injuries leave scars and others don’t. Just had that info locked and loaded off the top of his head.”
Sighing, I admitted, “I shouldn’t have let them close.”
“I think it’s too late for that.”
“Probably, but my life revolves around the club. I don’t know if I have the time or energy to bounce back and forth between here and Little Memphis.”
“You were always going up there anyway. Now, at least, you have someone hot to snuggle up with.”
Eyeing York, I muttered, “You seem overly optimistic this morning. Are you sober enough to drive home?”
“I’ve had two beers all night. I’ll be fine.”
“So, is it the new house that’s gotten you silly and cheerful?”
York shrugged and finished his beer. Finally, he admitted, “I thought Elle was crazy to get knocked up.”
“It wasn’t on purpose.”
“Still, she clearly likes you. That shit seemed insane.”
“Thanks a lot, asshole.”
York chuckled. “You’re a good friend and a great president, but those things don’t translate into boyfriend material. Her family lives the life. She should know what a man like you could offer.”
“You’re starting to piss me off.”
“You know what you’re like. That’s why I chose to follow you instead of Wrecker. He had fanciful ideas in his head about how things should be. You saw the world the way it was.”
