“You can’t believe that.”
I just shrug my shoulders and bite my lower lip.
“Look here, Veronica. Whether you believe it or not, you are family. Whether you’re dating one of the knuckleheads in this club or not. You are my sister.”
“Mine too.” Arizona pipes in before changing the subject, thankfully. “Are you ready for your little man to come into the world?” She asks Ash and all I can do is scan the room as I reach forward and pick up a wing off the plate and take a bite.
“Excited and fucking nervous. Ryker had me watching childbirth videos to prepare me. All it did was frighten me more.” She blows out a breath. “Seeing what this little guy is going to do to my vagina, I told him there wasn’t going to be anymore. It was like something out of a horror movie. Thank God Mack wasn’t there. If he saw how big my opening could get, I swear he’d try to have them all fucking my hole at the same time.” Arizona and I can’t help but double over laughing at the mortified look on her face. I vow to never, ever look at any video of a birth.
“They're not here,” Ash says softly, placing her hand on my knee.
“I’m not looking for anyone,” I lie again.
“Yes, you are,” Arizona adds. “Hank’s at the club tonight.” She picks up a bottle of beer, taking a sip, before speaking again. “Bash let it slip.”
“Luke is at the tattoo parlor working tonight and Josh,” Ash clears her throat. “Josh is working at the hospital. I also made sure not to tell them you were going to be here.”
“Seriously, I wasn’t looking for them. I was taking in all the decorations.” Another lie.
“Whatever, let that be the story you tell yourself,” Ash scoffs. “Besides, would it be so bad to see them here tonight? You’d be forced to talk.”
“It’s better than a bar,” Arizona adds. “Aren’t you supposed to go back to work soon, anyway?”
“Nope. No way would I be talking to them if they were here. And actually seeing them at Hell’s Desire would be better. I’ll be busy working so I won’t have the time to entertain them.”
“Uh huh,” they both say in unison.
“I can tell you what is going to happen. Me, excusing myself to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I discard the half-eaten wing on one of the plates and stand, making my way across the room toward the bathroom. My plan is to hide in there for a few minutes then sneak out of the clubhouse. Once I’m safely back at Luca’s, I’ll text Ash and Arizona with some excuse why I had to leave.
Maybe they’re right. At least here, if I had to face them, it would be quick and polite. There wouldn’t be any yelling. Well, not on their part… I don’t think.
I make my way to the bathroom, not that I need to use it, but because I need a break. Some time to myself to breathe and regroup. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that my two best friends wouldn’t bring up those three men. But I hoped they wouldn’t. Ash is so excited about Christmas, and I thought her full attention would be on that and her upcoming birth. I still can’t believe she is going to be a mom. That Ryker, Kaleb, Mack, and Colin are going to be fathers. I never thought I’d see the day they would settle down and have a family. Much less with the same woman.
A knock at the door tells me my time of solitude has come to an end.
“Just a sec,” I shout loudly, not even sure if they can hear me over the Christmas music playing.
Opening the door, I see a woman. She’s not familiar, and I know she’s not a club girl; they are banned tonight. “All yours,” I say sweetly as I slip past her. She smiles and disappears inside.
Stepping back out into the room, I see Ash and Arizona still on the couch, talking, Jace and Colin seated with them now.
I stay close to the wall and work my way to the kitchen. From there I’ll slip out the back door and make my way around the building and disappear. Once I’m off the property, I’ll message both of the girls and let them know I left. Tell them I’m sick or something.
My eyes are so focused on Ash and Arizona, making sure they don’t notice me that I run smack into a giant wall. Large hands grip my arms, holding me in place.
My eyes drift up and see Bash.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“No problem. I was actually looking for you.” He lets go of my arms and steps back.
“You were?” My eyebrow raises in confusion.
“I know when we talked about you coming back, we decided after Christmas was for the best. But I was wondering… could you actually start before then? Like Christmas Eve?”
I debate for a minute. “Yeah. I can.”
“You sure?” he asks. “I don’t really have anyone but Javier and Carlos. The girls aren’t really working out behind the bar, and Arizona said she would, but we are hoping to spend our first Christmas together.”
