The TV remote sat on the coffee table.I snagged it and channel-surfed.Nothing caught my eye, and I turned it off.I pulled off my boots, stretched out on the sofa, and immediately understood why Ivy bought this furniture.It was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.I wished I’d brought my paperback with me.Since I hadn’t, I decided to rest my eyes.
My body jerked when I heard a key in the lock.I opened my eyes in time to see Ivy step inside, close the door, and lock it.
She stared at me for a moment.“Alexandra was right.”
I sat up and ran a hand through my hair.“Right about what?”
She hung her purse on a hook by the door.“That you’d be waiting inside.”
I sensed something bothered her, but I didn’t think it was me being in her home.“What else did she tell you?”
She shrugged a shoulder and edged deeper into the living area.“The club used to be outlaws, and she hinted that in some ways it still is.”
I shook my head.“Something else is bothering you.Did your closing go smooth?”
She nodded.“Yeah.All good.”
“Then what’s bugging you?”
Standing in the middle of the living room, she crossed her arms under her breasts.“I hardly know you, I don’t think I should tell you what’s bothering me.At the same time, the fact you picked up on something bothering me is crazy.”
She hardly knew me?
Four hours ago, I had my tongue down her throat and my mouth on her pussy.Still, things were moving fast with us, and I could see where she was coming from.
I gave her my most skeptical look.“You know I’m a triplet.I’m from Biloxi.I’m in the Riot MC, and I work at a bar.What more do you need to know?My political background?”
One of her eyebrows lowered while the opposite one arched with her confusion.“You’re political?I’d figure as an outlaw you wouldn’t be.”
I stared at her for a moment.“The people who say they don’tdopolitics, don’t realize politics arealwaysdoing them.”
“Wow.”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
She looked abashed for a beat.“I’m guessing you’re a Republican.”
I took a breath.“You guess wrong.I’m a Libertarian, but registered to a different party specifically so I can vote in primary elections.”
Her head reared back and she unfolded her arms.“Now, that surprises me.”
“It shouldn’t.The whole system is fucked because the things we need most are term limits on the Supreme Court and definitely Congress.It’ll never happen though because the legislation has to be passed by Congress.They won’t and not just because it doesn’t serve them, but it doesn’t serve their donors who got them the seat.The whole system is for the rich and by the rich.”
She shot me a questioning glance.“With that attitude, why do you vote?”
My lips tipped up.“Because if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.”
She lowered her head in a half nod.“Is that how your dad sees it?”
I gave a silent chuckle.“No.That’s all my Uncle Mick.I also vote because it makes me feel like I’ve done something.”
Her head tilted to the side a touch.“Even if it’s spitting in the wind.”
“Maybe.It’s like Nina Simone says in one of her songs, ‘too slow.’”
Her brows furrowed.“You listen to jazz?”
“Aunt Stella and Uncle Mick do.I’m from Mississippi.You can’t grow up there without hearing ‘Mississippi Goddamn’ and reallylisteningto it.”
