“She is and she’s not. If you know what I mean. She’s mean, but she’s not vicious.”
“Jealousy can bring out the beast.”
“Nah, she’s not jealous. But she sold us out.” I shook my head, speaking of the General finding him and I before we arrived in Arizona in the first place.
But the not being jealous part—Scar gave me a look like I was crazy. “Either way, I’ve told Root and Chug to keep a close eye on Halley.”
No shit. “That’s why they’re snooping around us,” I said, like everything had been explained.
“Yeah, so I already knew you’re not backing off like I’ve asked you.”
“Halley doesn’t want me to back off. I thought you’d care more about her happiness. I just want to make her happy.” I wasn’t about to tell him I planned to fuck her, but I wanted him to get my drift.
I think he did. It was forever and another whiskey before he spoke again. “What makes you think I’d approve of this relationship? A little sudden, don’t you think?”
“Like you and Emery?”
Fuck. I was one of his oldest friends. Sure, I was older than Halley, a little too wiser in the ways of the world, but she could do worse around here. “Don’t you have enough on your plate to be worrying about her love life?”
Scar wasn’t taking any time away from his woman or affairs to care for Halley. It’s like he didn’t want to admit she needed someone at all. If he couldn’t face that she was a mess, there was no reason for me to back off. She needed someone. And to me, she was a beautiful mess. “You really want me to back off and leave her for someone else to snatch up? Halley’s not the kind of woman who’d be alone too long.”
Scar’s face said he didn’t want to hear that about his sister. “Alright. You can take her out tonight.”
I patted his back. “I have your blessing then?”
“Fuck no, you don’t have my blessing. If you earn Halley’s love, I’ll think about it.”
Halley
Cowboy convinced me to let Jessy Bell watch the baby and go get ready for a night on the town with Harlot, Riot and Emery. I wasn’t too sure. I hadn’t left the baby alone since he was born. Well except with Cowboy for an hour. I may’ve not named him, but it didn’t mean I didn’t love him. Nevertheless, this night would be one of mine and Cowboy’s firsts. We’d had our first kiss. Both of us have had our first kisses. We’d held hands a bunch of ways. Now, Cowboy and I would have our first date and then he planned to stake a claim on me which I could only guess meant some wild sex. My gut twisted just thinking of it. I’d never wanted to be claimed before, but now Cowboy’s cock was all I could think of.
Before I could leave, my brother showed up with presents, one for me and one for the baby. Pleased he was being kinder, I opened up a cell phone. He wasn’t beingkinder, just possessive in another way. For the baby, he had sort of a matching present, a baby monitor.
“I’ll hook it up now,” he said.
As much as I wanted to be mad at him for being over protective, knowing Jessy Bell would have the monitor’s help if she stepped away from the baby gave me some peace.
“Have you thought of a name for your baby?”
“Not yet. I don’t even remember my real dad’s name.”
“Jon, Jon Cole was his name. I loved the man. If it were me, I’d name the baby after him… Our mama prayed every night that I’d protect you when she was gone.”
“Do you think I should stay home?”
“Nah, you go on with Cowboy and have a good time.”
I hugged him, and let him know, “You know without you no one would’ve cared about me rotting down there in the rabbit hole.”
“The rabbit hole?” He was looking at me like I was nuts again.
“That basement… Without you, Cowboy would’ve never found me and the baby.”
I think he felt better since his Emery would be with me until I met up with Cowboy tonight.
I’d not been out to get a pedicure ever, so when I saw all the Asian ladies’ unhappy faces, all I could think about was being locked in that basement. I jumped when one of them sat at my feet. She smiled at me, but I saw right through it. I’d smiled like that before. I started to have second thoughts about getting my toes painted. However, Emery stepped in and insisted. So, I let her. I even got a manicure then my legs exfoliated and massaged. Because, I wanted to look and feel perfect for Cowboy tonight.
Emery, bless her. She even took me shopping and bought me a mess of clothes. I cried, then felt stupid for it. I’d had nothing of my own for so long. It was really fucked up that a weeks’ worth of outfits would make me tear up like this. Emery and the others had been treating me like I would break anyhow, even mentioned me going to therapy, and now I had. I was pitiful. Just like they all thought.
