Every word they spoke stabbed into her façade, carving a chunk out of the bullshit story she’d sold them. Every compliment and gush made her feel like the worst kind of fraud. What would they think if they knew the truth? If they knew she’d let a man hurt her? That she’d stayed with a man who belittled, humiliated, and hurt her?
They’d be devastated.
All of a sudden, she couldn’t tolerate another second of the conversation.
“Excuse me,” she blurted as she shot to her feet.
Four sets of startled eyes stared up at her from where the ladies sat at the picnic table.
“You okay, sweetie?” Shell asked.
“Yeah, of course. I’m just gonna grab a drink and…” She glanced around.Come on, somewhere there had to be an excuse.Gator sat alone, removed from the group, frowning at his phone. “Um, grab and drink and say hi to Gator. I haven’t had a chance to chat with him.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m glad you’re having fun.” Shell squeezed her hand and grinned the same smile she’d been giving Beth all night—part adoration, part excitement, and all love.
“Do not let that man talk himself into your panties, missy,” Stephanie said as she shook her finger and glared in Beth’s direction. “He is a menace.”
Laughing, Beth lifted her hands in surrender. “Don’t worry about that. That man is way too insane for me.” And that was the truth. As much as she loved Gator and as good friends as they’d become over the last few years, he was too unpredictable and wild for her, not to mention she had no interest in putting him in Copper’s murderous crosshairs.
After refilling her cup at the keg and a second for Gator, she wandered to where he sat alone in an Adirondak chair, removed from the rest of the group. Two other chairs, one on either side of him, remained empty. He stared down at his phone with a very un-Gator-like scowl.
“Mind if I join you?”
Gator’s head popped up. As soon as he laid eyes on her, his expression morphed into one of happiness. He set his phone face down on the armrest and grinned the smile that had charmed many, many brave women over the years. “If one of those beers is for me, then you better sit that sweet ass down.”
Instantly, her mood lifted. Gator had that effect. His personality was so out there that she could do nothing but smile in his wacky presence. “It sure is.”
“Well then, cop a squat, princess,” he said, patting the chair on his right.
“You better not start in on that princess shit,” she said as she handed him his Solo cup of beer and took a seat. “You know I hate that.”
Grinning like the devil he was, he shrugged. “But you’re the club princess. It’s straight-up facts.”
Beth glared at him. “Unless you want me to bite your other leg, you willnotcall me princess.”
He snorted, then sipped his beer. “Fine, be like that.”
The sun had set, and darkness wrapped around the clubhouse and the surrounding area. Screw lit a bonfire a while ago. It roared about twenty feet away from where she and Gator sat, chasing away the slight nighttime chill. A few of the kids roasted marshmallows, stuffing them between crackers and chocolate to make a delicious, gooey treat. Some of the guys flirted with their guests while others chatted in groups, drinking and laughing.
Beth couldn’t help but smile as she watched the antics unfolding.
This was home.
They sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. He might be off his rocker, but Gator could read people in a way most couldn’t. Without words, he seemed to realize she needed some time to process. Of course, he couldn’t keep his trap shut for too long.
“So, saw you getting grilled by the ol’ lady brigade.”
“Not grilled, just… told how amazing I am. It was super uncomfortable.”
He chuckled. “Aww, p-cess, they just love you.”
She arched an eyebrow as she stared at his mischievous smirk. “P-cess? Seriously?”
“What? You said no princess, and I think it’s got a nice ring to it.” His eyes sparkled with a whole lot of trouble.
“Fuck you.”
Gator let out a loud laugh. “Damn, it’s good to have you home, p-cess.”
