“Slow down, cowboy. What’s the rush?”
“Sadie’s in there.”
“Ah,” Owen replies. “That’s why you wanted to come to this bar. I was wondering why you didn’t want to go to our usual place.”
“Come on, let’s just get a table. Is Shane here already?”
“I think he’s still on his way. Why are you so jumpy?”
“Sadie’s been having a hard time in the pack,” I answer. “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
As the words come out of my mouth, I realize they aren’t true—at least, not entirely.
I do want her to have fun, and it’s good that she has friends, but really, I just want to keep an eye on her in case she disappears on me… or worse.
As I head inside with Owen, my mind starts serving up an endless supply of worst-case scenarios, and I have to hold in a groan as tension spreads through my neck and shoulders.
Fuck this.
“Hey, is that James?” Owen says.
I look up and confirm that it’s one of the guys from the pack waving us to a corner table.
We join up with James, Bruce, Leroy, and my assistant mechanic, Billy. I take a big gulp of cold, frosty beer and scan the bar.
The place is getting crowded, with almost every table taken and a rumble of voices ringing through the room that makes it impossible to hear any clear words. I’m just about to do a lap of the place when I see Trina crossing the middle of the bar towards the opposite wall.
Without thinking, I take a step forward, ready to follow her, but Owen puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Take it easy, bud,” he says. “I’m sure Sadie’s fine.”
“But where is she?” I ask, suddenly sure that the girls didn’t actually bring her, and now my wife is God-knows-where.
Owen doesn’t have to answer because the crowd parts, revealing the girls’ table and Sadie.
She’s standing next to the table, already crowded with empty glasses. Her hands grip the edge as she throws her head back and shimmies a little to the music, her long brown hair tossing over her shoulders and catching the light as it falls down her back.
She’s wearing the same snug, knee-length skirt she was wearing earlier, but her modest, long-sleeved blouse is gone, and she’s only wearing a tight black top with spaghetti straps instead.
Did she go out and buy something skimpy to wear tonight? No, she was probably just wearing this underneath and ditched the blouse. I still don’t like it.
“Bro,” Owen says, tightening his grip on my shoulder. “I can practically hear your teeth grinding.”
“I’m not. I’m okay.”
“You aren’t. Chill out.”
With great difficulty, I tear my eyes off Sadie and turn around, sitting down at the table with the guys and finishing the beer, quickly reaching for a fresh one. Shane arrives, and all of us get into a discussion about the car show coming up, new parts coming in, and how business really booms when there’s an event.
I manage to lose myself in the conversation somewhat, with only the odd glance over at Sadie. She seems to be having a really good time, laughing with the girls and occasionally dancing with them in a little group.
She looks happy and relaxed. That’s all I really wanted for her, so I should just stay out of her way.
“Hey,” Shane says, giving me a nudge. “You really can’t take your eyes off her, can you?”
“Huh? What?” I reply, turning back to the table.
Shane laughs. “Your wife. I’ve never seen you so caught up with a woman before.”
