Gator swings those ice-blue eyes in her direction. “Says the girl who told me last Friday that my mama should’ve swallowed.”
Brooklyn lifts her chin. “I stand by it, too.”
“You always got something to say.” He tilts his head, studying her like she’s a puzzle he hasn’t figured out yet. “Every single time I walk through those doors, you’ve got something rude lined up and ready to go.”
Brooklyn narrows her eyes. “If you thinkthat’srude, you should hear the voice in my head.” She taps her temple. “That bitch is ruthless.”
Bash doesn’t even look up from his phone. “Honey, if you think you’re putting him off, you couldn’t be more wrong.” Finished with what he was texting, he lifts his head and smirks. “He likes ‘em crazy.”
Brooklyn opens her mouth.
“Enough.” Tacoma growls.
Everyone shuts up. Including me, and I wasn’t even talking.
Yikes! He’s a little scary.
Tacoma looks at Journey, his jaw set. It’s crystal clear that the discussion they were having before the Gator and Brooklyn Show is not over. “You’re staying with the girl.”
Journey’s eyes cut sideways to me, then back to Tacoma. “Prez?—“
“I can’t have people in this town thinking the club doesn’t have a handle on things.”
“Fine.” Journey stares at the wall, the muscle in his jaw ticking.
I should say something. Right? I mean, he can’t stay here. That would be… yeah, he can’t stay here.
“Uh—“ Every head swings in my direction, and I lose my nerve immediately. “I just—“Nope. Gone. It’s gone.I clear my throat. “That’s—I mean—“ I look at Stella for help.
She bites her lip.
Traitor.
“What I mean is, that’s really not—he doesn’t have to—“ my eyes slice to Journey. “I don’t want to put anyone out.”
Tacoma’s brows snap together. “You’re not.”
O-kay. And that, apparently, is that.
He turns toward the door, pausing to look at Bash and Gator. Whatever silent instruction passes between the three of them has both men straightening up and heading for the door. Gator’s gaze skims over Brooklyn one more time on the way out. She’s staring very deliberately at the wall above his head.
Tacoma pauses in the doorway and looks back over his shoulder at Journey. “Keep the girl safe.”
“Yeah,” Journey says. He doesn’t sound happy about it. He doesn’t sound like much of anything, actually, which I’m starting to think might just be his default setting.
Tacoma nods once, then disappears with his entourage behind him.
Bax shifts by the door. “I’ll be outside.”
“Oh, sure,” I say, becausemydefault response to literally any situation isbe polite. “Thank you.”
He grunts and disappears.
Me, Stella, Brooklyn, and my new houseguest leaning against the wall—are quiet for a moment.
“So,” Brooklyn says as she looks at Journey. Then at me. Then back at Journey. “Where are you sleeping?”
Stella covers her mouth with both hands.
